Rory McIlroy’s globe-trotting lifestyle as a professional golfer has its perks and pitfalls. The golf superstar has travelled across the world, accumulating tournament victories and banking prize money, but the international commitments associated with elite sport offer players little flexibility in terms of where they can spend their time.
Born in Holywood, County Down in 1989, McIlroy turned pro while still a teenager in 2007 and just two years later he became a winner on the European Tour. In 2010, McIlroy transitioned to the US-based PGA Tour, spending much more of his time stateside. Two years after that, due to spending so much time abroad, he decided to put his luxurious Northern Ireland property up for sale.
The expansive property, set on 14 acres of land, features a gym, a tennis court, a driving range and a cutting-edge golf practice area.
When selling the house, McIlroy asked for £2million, but it is understood that the eventual buyer, former TV presenter Gary McCausland, paid slightly less.
Upon purchasing the property in 2013, McCausland described it as an ‘amazing place’ and stated that the quality of the golf facilities made it a unique opportunity.
By the time McIlroy said goodbye to what was once his dream mansion, he was already a two-time major winner.
He added two more major titles to his collection in 2014, winning both the PGA Championship and The Open in the same season.
Earlier this year, he completed the Grand Slam by winning The Masters in dramatic fashion.
Despite parting ways with his Northern Irish abode, McIlroy’s lifestyle didn’t take a hit. The golfer upgraded to a lavish Palm Beach residence, valued at over triple the price of his former home.
In last year’s edition of the Sunday Times Rich List, McIlroy secured the 13th spot among the 40 wealthiest individuals under 40. Alongside his Floridian estate, he utilised his reported £225million net worth to make another significant investment in a California mansion in 2019.
It’s also been reported that McIlroy owns a flat in New York and a villa in the Middle East.
His absence from Northern Ireland was short-lived as he now possesses a colossal 200-acre estate in County Down, dating back to the 19th century.
