Rory McIlroy has revealed he shells out on a lavish golf club membership at an exclusive location for his dad.
McIlroy is a true golf-aholic. The Northern Irishman lives and breathes the sport both on and off the course.
And throughout his career as one of the world’s best, the four-time major winner has accrued a healthy number of golf club memberships.
When quizzed on how many memberships he actually has to his name, McIlroy replied: “Gotta go country by country here… 12, 13,” quite the humble brag.
But, the 35-year-old couldn’t help but use the opportunity to get a little jab in on his dad, stating: “Can I include Seminole? Because I pay for that for my dad.”
Not that dad Gerry will mind all that much, given memberships for the Florida-based course aren’t publicly available and have been said to cost thousands of pounds per year.
McIlroy continued reeling off his list of memberships, eventually settling on 18 as a final answer, including his favourite, which is unlikely to come as a surprise to many.
He added: “My favourite is the R&A [The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews]. I think that’s probably my favourite.”
The Old Course on the east coast of Scotland remains one of golf’s most treasured stomping grounds and regularly plays host to The Open.
McIlroy has plenty of fond memories playing St Andrews, including hitting the lowest-ever opening-round score for an Open Championship at R&A in 2010.
He’d end up finishing in third, eight shots down to eventual winner Louis Oosthuizen that time around, before eventually going on to lift the Claret Jug at Hoylake four years later.
The PGA Championship title – his fourth career major – followed just one month later, but since that victory, McIlroy hasn’t been able to get over the line and end his drought.
McIlroy knows more than anyone else just how close he’s come, most recently missing out on the U.S. Open title in dramatic fashion earlier this year – a result he dubbed one of the worst of his career.
But having ended the year on a high, taking both the DP Tour Championship and Race to Dubai titles, optimism is high heading into 2025 for McIlroy and his major chances.
Speaking after last weekend’s triumph, McIlroy said: “I’ve been through a lot this year, professionally, personally and it feels like the fitting end to 2024.
“I’ve persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn’t able to get it done, so to be able to get over the line… I’m really pleased with the way I finished and thankfully I hung on on a tough day and got the job done.”
