GOLFER Rory McIlroy has broken off his engagement to tennis player Caroline
Wozniacki just days after sending out wedding invitations.
The former world number one, 25 – the youngest US Open winner since 1923 –
confirmed the relationship with the 23-year-old had ended after he realised
he was not ready for marriage.
He said: “There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so
important to two people.”
In a statement he added: “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.”
Wozniacki, whose Twitter page still lists her as fianceé first before adding
sister, tennisplayer. Mother to our dog Bruno, has not commented on the
split.
The pair had got engaged on New Year’s Eve – announcing their happy news on
Twitter.
Caroline wrote at the time: “Happy new year everyone! Rory and I started
2014 with a bang!… I said YES!!!!”
He later posted a picture of her huge diamond sparkler, adding: “I have a
feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!”
McIlroy also told a newspaper about the moment he popped the question: “I
was sweating a lot. A lot! I’d an idea she’d say ‘yes’ but you never really
know until it actually happens. It was a great way to end 2013 and start
2014.
“We were out on a boat in Sydney Harbour for New Year’s Eve, just in
front of the Opera House and the fireworks were going off.
“Yeah, I guess there was a little bit of romance involved and, yeah, she
was surprised. I had an idea it was something she wanted and hoped she’d say
‘yes’ and she did.”
The couple’s relationship had its ups and downs even before the engagement –
with the Northern Irish golfer reportedly breaking off the liaison days
after she posted a mean picture on Twitter showing him asleep with his mouth
open.
At the time friends had said there was no way back, describing Danish tennis
ace Wozniacki as “absolutely devastated”.
But then she was in the gallery watching McIlroy at the Dubai World
Championship in November.
Fellow golfer Nick Faldo had urged McIlroy to “concentrate on golf”
after a slump in form. But the pair’s plans to tie the knot were revealed
just weeks later.