Erica Stoll and Rory McIlroy at Augusta National(Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has opened up on the efforts to balance his life as one of the best golfers on the planet, as well as being a husband and dad at home with his family.
Despite a tough week at the U.S. Open, it was a positive end to his trip to Oakmont, after the recently-crowned Masters champion carded an impressive three-under-par 67 on Sunday. It was a much-needed bounce-back from the world No. 2, whose frustrations were clear a day earlier.
He then added: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want to do, yeah.”
A day later, a more calm and collective McIlroy spoke to the media both before and after his round. Speaking afterwards, McIlroy took time to explain the two sides to his life both on and off the golf course.
“It’s always nice to get home,” McIlroy said in the aftermath of his tournament-best 67. “I feel like I live two different lives. I’m a dad and a husband when I’m away from here, and then I’m who I am when I’m here. It’s always nice to get away and feel a bit of normality.”
McIlroy was in a much better mood during his interview with NBC
McIlroy was in a much better mood on day four(Image: Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)
Despite some doubts, the world No. 2 confirmed he would be back in action at the Travelers Championship next week, before he makes a long-awaited return back to Europe.
McIlroy and his family will be moving into a new property in London, before he plays both the Scottish Open and The Open Championship, the latter in his home country of Northern Ireland at Royal Portrush.
“I’m looking forward to just getting back to Europe in general. Obviously, I’ve got one more week over here. Play Hartford next week. Yeah, we’ve got a lot to look forward to, got our new house in London, play the Scottish and then obviously The Open at Portrush.”
The trip to Royal Portrush will be a special one for McIlroy, and it is one he is looking forward to as he chases a second major title of the campaign. “I feel like playing an Open at Portrush already, and sort of at least remembering what those feelings were like and those feelings that I was probably unprepared for at the time.
He then added: “I didn’t realize how emotional I was going to be at Portrush. I think that was a thing I was unprepared for more than anything else.
“I remember I hit a shot into 12 or 13 Friday night, obviously trying to make the cut. I remember the roar I got when the ball hit the green, and I felt like I was about to burst into tears. Just that support and that love from your own people. So I was unprepared for that. I need to just get myself in the right frame of mind to feel those feelings again.”
