She went from being one half of a sporting super couple to being dumped over the phone days after sending out her wedding invites, so it’s perhaps not surprising that Caroline Wozniacki is still not the biggest fan of her ex Rory McIlroy.
Prior to his Masters win in Augusta, the former world No 1 tennis star couldn’t resist taking a dig at her ex-fiancé by pointedly throwing her support behind another player in an interview with ESPN.
Despite much of the golfing world hoping and predicting a McIlroy win at Augusta, Wozniacki and who atttended the Masters as a fan with her husband – retired NBA player David Lee – said: ‘We pick one that we think has a big chance of winning, and that was [Ludvig] Aberg.’
Aberg ended up finishing seventh, while McIlroy held his nerve on a tense final round to defeat Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff, as his loyal wife Erica Stoll looked on with their daughter Poppy.
The dynamic between Rory and Erica has generated just as much interest as his big win, coming less than a year after he filed for divorce, only to change his mind a month later.
It was no doubt a reminder of how Caroline’s painful break-up with the Northern Irish sports star played out in 2013, when he blindsided her by calling off their engagement in a three-minute phone call and taking up with Erica months later.
It seemed like history was repeating itself last year when he announced his shock split from Erica and was quickly linked to CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis – although both have never outright addressed the rumours.
At the time of his divorce u-turn last year, sources put the decision to split from Erica down to the golfer’s impetuous nature, with one telling the Mail: ‘Rory is a bit of a law unto himself. Filing for divorce was all about Rory rushing into things. He is very spur of the moment and will just decide something without giving it much thought.’
Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki, pictured together at the Masters in 2013, shortly before the golfer broke off their engagement after wedding invitations had been sent
McIlroy, pictured with wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy, after his thrilling Masters win
Wozniacki, pictured here with tennis icon Roger Federer and her husband David Lee, did not tip McIlroy to win at Augusta this year
Although there was no change of heart on his relatonship with Caroline, the hasty break-up and a very public announcement will no doubt feel painfully familiar to the Danish athlete.
A sporting super-couple, McIlroy and Wozniacki were together between 2011 and 2013 but he ended the relationship, surprising the former Australian Open champion by saying he was not ready for marriage.
The duo had sent out wedding invitations after a New Year’s Eve proposal in Sydney and Wozniacki posted: ‘Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! I said YES!!!!’
But only months later, McIlroy changed his mind. At the time, he put out a statement, reading: ‘There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people.
‘The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails.’
‘I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.’
Their split came just months after Wozniacki posted a picture of McIlroy sleeping with his mouth open and glasses on, with sources at the time saying he was ‘very upset by it’.
The tennis player captioned the photo, which she later deleted: ‘Jetlag @McIlroyRory? Lol!!’
Wozniacki has since admitted to being stunned at the way in which the break-up was handled.
She previously told Graham Bensinger: ‘I was shocked. I thought at least I would get a face-to-face or something, but there was nothing. It was a phone call, and I did not hear from him again. It kind of just ended.
CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis congratulated Rory McIlroy after his success at the Masters. The pair were linked last year, but have not commented on the rumours
McIlroy and Wozniacki share a kiss during the Masters par three tournament in 2013
Their split came just months after Wozniacki posted a picture of McIlroy sleeping with his mouth open and glasses on, with sources at the time saying he was ‘very upset by it’
The sporting power couple, pictured here in 2012 at Newbury, broke up abruptly after McIlroy changed his mind on marriage
Wozniacki opted against picking her ex-fiancee to win during an ESPN interview
‘It was very hard because he made it very public from the start. He put out a press release and all of that so I didn’t have a choice, it just got put in my face.’
Despite Wozniacki’s claim that the break-up was one-sided, McIlroy said in an interview that the decision was mutual.
‘It is quite a difficult time for Caroline and myself, and the statement really said it all,’ he told ESPN.
‘It was mutual, and we both thought it was the best for us, the best for both of us. Time to move on, and I’ve said all that I need to say.’
McIlroy has been married to his wife Erica Stoll since 2017 and the pair share a four-year-old daughter, Poppy.
Wozniacki is expecting her third child with Lee and they have a two-year-old, James, and three-year-old, Olivia.
Stoll and McIlroy first met when he was with Wozniacki and the American was working for the PGA of America.
They started dating months after his break up with the tennis ace and their first encounter was believed to be when she helped him make his tee time at the Ryder Cup after he overslept.
Wozniacki and McIlroy pose on course after he won the DP World Tour Championship in 2012
Wozniacki, pictured here with Federer, is currently expecting her third child
McIlroy and Stoll married in 2017 and welcomed Poppy into the world three years later.
But their relationship hit the headlines last year when McIlroy filed for divorce in a move that appeared to come out of the blue, with echoes of the end of his relationship with Wozniacki.
There was speculation of a potential romance with CBS sports journalist Amanda Balionis after the pair appeared to enjoy a strong rapport during an interview at the Wells Fargo Championship.
But reports clarified that McIlroy and Balionis maintained a strictly professional relationship, and there was no romantic involvement between them.
Then came another abrupt change of direction, with the divorce petition voluntarily dismissed.
McIlroy said last summer: ‘Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.’
Rumours swirled of a potential romance with CBS sports journalist Amanda Balionis after the pair appeared to enjoy a strong rapport during an interview at the Wells Fargo Championship
McIlroy stunned the world when he filed for divorce from his wife of eight years but there was then an abrupt U-turn and the couple stayed together
And Stoll has been a regular supporter of her husband out on the course, positioned by the 18th hole on Sunday at the scene of his triumph.
McIlroy went straight to Stoll, who wowed in an all-white ensemble and dramatic wide-brimmed hat, and pulled her into an embrace.
He then knelt down to hug Poppy and later thanked his family in a tearful address, saying: ‘Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team.
‘They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through. They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again,’ he continued after recomposing himself.
‘The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy, never give up on your dreams. Never ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back. Keep working hard.’
