Rory McIlroy overcame a rollercoaster final two rounds that ended with a bogey on Sunday, April 12, to win his second straight Green Jacket Masters tournament. That was enough to finish one stroke behind world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler.
McIlroy became the fourth golfer in history to win the Masters back-to-back, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Nick Faldo.
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McIlroy has now won six major tournaments: the 2026 and 2025 Masters, the 2014 British Open Championship, the 2014 PGA Championship, the 2012 PGA Championship, and the 2011 U.S. Open.
McIlroy, 36, is originally from Northern Ireland and currently resides in Palm Beach County.
Here are some interesting facts about McIlroy and his life in Florida.
April 12, 2026. Augusta, Georgia, USA. Augusta National Golf Club Chairman Fred Ridley awards Rory McIlroy with his green jacket during the Green Jacket Ceremony after the final round of the Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Required Credit: Michael Madroid-Imagn Images
Rory McIlroy’s home in Jupiter, Florida
Rory McIlroy lives in the gated Bears Club golf community in Jupiter. He and his wife, Erica Stoll, bought the property in 2017 for $11 million, records show.
He previously lived in a Palm Beach Gardens home near the Bears Club, which he bought for $10 million in 2012.
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According to the New York Post, McIlroy and Stoll’s Jupiter home is a 13,000-square-foot mansion on about 2.5 acres of land. The property boasts “nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, a home theater, recording studio, guest house, tennis court, and membership to the Jack Nicklaus Golf Course.”
Rory McIlroy holds up the Masters trophy in front of his daughter Poppy and wife Erica Stoll during the green jacket ceremony after the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament.
The Bears Club was founded in 1999 by Jack and Barbara Nicklaus as South Florida’s “home course.” Nicklaus, who lived for decades just south of Jupiter in North Palm Beach, designed the 18-hole championship course.
McIlroy said he often looks to Nicklaus for advice. In fact, he may be able to apply some of that knowledge to the 2026 Masters.
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McIlroy said he spent much of the past three weeks leading up to the 2026 Masters playing at Augusta National.
“I’ve been talking to Jack Nicklaus over the years about how he’s prepared for majors, and he was out the week before and simulating the tournament,” Rory said after winning the 2026 Masters. “He played one ball for four days and made a shot. So once he got into the tournament, it was kind of… natural for him.”
Rory McIlroy gets married in a star-studded ceremony in Ireland. filed for divorce in Palm Beach County
Rory McIlroy married former PGA Tour employee Erica Stoll in a star-studded ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland in 2017, the New York Post reported. According to the paper, Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran and Chris Martin were also in attendance.
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In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife of seven years in Palm Beach County Clerk’s Court, claiming their marriage had “irretrievably broken down.”
A month later, in June 2024, on the eve of the US Open, McIlroy announced that the couple had “resolved their differences.”
They are still together, and his wife and daughter Poppy (born 2020) stayed with him even after he won the 2026 Masters.
Rory McIlroy visits the Turtles in Juno Beach after suffering a heartbreaking loss at the 2024 U.S. Open
On Sunday, June 16, 2024, Father’s Day, McIlroy entered the final four holes of the U.S. Open, one of golf’s four majors, with a two-shot lead.
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McIlroy had previously won four majors, but hadn’t won in the last 10 years. His lead almost guaranteed him another win.
But at the No. 2 course in Pinehurst, North Carolina, he hit some terrible shots, missing two short putts that the average weekend hacker would have made. To call it heartbreaking would be an understatement.
After the round ended, McIlroy watched from the clubhouse as eventual champion Bryson DeChambeau clinched the tournament. It was painful to see McIlroy’s reaction.
He then quickly left the course, ignored the press conference, and made matters worse by not congratulating DeChambeau. He received considerable heat on social media for ignoring his professional “responsibilities.”
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The next day, he posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Sunday was “a tough day. Probably the toughest day in my almost 17 years as a professional golfer.” He went on to congratulate DeChambeau. He said: “I’m going to take a few weeks off from the game to process everything and rebuild myself.”
Maybe the stress of the past week has been too much, or maybe McIlroy enjoys sea life just like everyone else. That Monday, he was seen with his wife and daughter at the Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach.
What is the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods?
McIlroy grew up dreaming of beating Tiger Woods in golf.
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Today, the two are the best golfers in the world and are also business partners.
TGL is an interactive golf league led by McIlroy and Woods, who lives on Jupiter Island, a town in Martin County on the Palm Beach County border, not far from McIlroy’s home in Jupiter.
TGL, which combines traditional golf with simulated indoor golf, is played at the SoFi Center on Palm Beach State University’s Palm Beach Gardens campus.
more: TGL explains: Details on Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy’s golf league, and whether Trump will attend
The league consists of six teams, each with four PGA Tour players competing head-to-head in 18 holes of match play. McIlroy plays at Boston Common Golf and Woods plays at Jupiter Links Golf Club. The other teams are Atlanta Drive GC, Los Angeles Golf Club, New York Golf Club and The Bay Golf Club. Los Angeles recently defeated Jupiter, where Woods plays, to win the championship in his second season in the league.
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McIlroy’s Classic win by charging Tiger at Palm Beach Gardens
030412 (Bill Ingram/Palm Beach Post): PALM BEACH GARDENS: Lori McIlroy holds the championship trophy on the 18th green during the final round of the 2012 Honda Classic at PGA National Friday in Palm Beach Gardens.
Rory McIlroy became the world’s top-ranked golfer for the first time in his career when he won the 2012 Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens.
However, he had to endure a spectacular final round by Tiger Woods.
Woods shot a PGA Tour career-low final round score of 62 in the final round, including a stunning second shot on the par-5 18th hole with a 5-iron from about 218 yards above the water to about 8 to 10 feet inside. Then he held the putt and took the eagle.
It’s no exaggeration to say that this is the first time we’ve seen such superstar drama on the final day of the Honda Classic. Also, I don’t think I’ve ever heard the roar of the crowd like when Woods hit his 5-iron and made the eagle putt.
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more: Rory McIlroy wins Honda Classic, takes No. 1 ranking, but Tiger Woods makes him strive for it
Tiger Woods reacts after making an eagle putt on the 18th hole during the final round of the Honda Classic on March 4, 2012 at Palm Beach Gardens.
When McIlroy heard the crowd from his spot on the 13th hole, he realized (correctly) that his three-shot lead at the turn had been reduced to one.
“I wasn’t really paying attention to (Tiger) until he made the eagle on the 18th,” McIlroy said. “I heard a huge roar, but it was definitely not Birdy’s roar.”
However, after returning five holes, McIlroy made an 8-foot birdie on the 13th hole, then saved par twice through the difficult holes 15, 16, and 17 called the Bear Trap, ultimately winning by two strokes.
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McIlroy, then 22, became the youngest player to reach No. 1 in the world since Woods, who achieved the feat at age 21.
Boston Common Golf’s Rory McIlroy (left) and Keegan Bradley celebrate Adam Scott’s shot during the TGL vs. Jupiter Links GC game on March 17, 2026 at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Boston Common’s Rory McIlroy tees off in a TGL game against Jupiter Links GC at the SoFi Center on January 27, 2025 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
This article originally appeared in the Palm Beach Post: Masters champion Rory McIlroy is living a great life in South Florida
