LPGA star Charley Hull has weighed in on the furor surrounding Rory McIlroy’s personal life after a rollercoaster year for the golfer.
McIlroy finally slipped into the Green Jacket earlier this month when he clinched his first Masters win and sealed the career Grand Slam after 11 agonizing years of trying.
The thrilling victory came after a dramatic year of highs and lows for the Northern Irishman, who filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll last May, only to perform a shock U-turn on his decision a month later.
Hull, who has made her own share of headlines over the past year thanks to her viral on-course smoking, reacted to the intense interest in the five-time major winner’s actions both on and off the course.
‘At the end of the day, what people say about you, whether it’s good or bad, is irrelevant,’ the women’s world No 10 told US Weekly. ‘If you’re doing something good, people always have bad things to say about you, and try to bring you down because you’re doing well.’
The English player added: ‘My famous saying is, ‘People’s opinions don’t pay my bills.’ So you’ve just got to brush it off with a pinch of salt, you know what I mean?’
Rory McIlroy has made headlines for his actions on and off the course over the past year
LPGA star Charley Hull went viral at the 2024 US Women’s Open for smoking on the course
The English player has now weighed in on the scrutiny surrounding McIlroy’s personal life
McIlroy celebrated his Masters triumph with Erica and their four-year-old daughter Poppy in emotional scenes after the couple, who tied the knot in 2017, put on a united front at Augusta National – almost one year on from the beginning of their bombshell divorce drama.
However, Stoll didn’t appear to have made the trip with McIlroy and Poppy to his native Northern Ireland to celebrate his latest win last week.
Many viewers were also quick to point out that the PGA Tour did not reference his wife by name during a post-tournament interview with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis.
Hull, admitted that the scrutiny faced by McIlroy ‘a hundred percent’ influenced her decision to keep her own new romance away from the limelight.
‘I think it’s a good thing to do,’ Hull told the outlet. ‘It can be hard with my job and everything. In a couple weeks time, he is going to come out for a few days, but that’s about it, really.’
McIlroy sent shockwaves through the golfing world when he filed for divorce from his wife of seven years last May – just days before the beginning of the PGA Championship , the second major championship of the golfing calendar.
The PGA Tour icon left golfing fans further shocked when he performed a U-turn just a month later, calling off his divorce from Stoll ahead of last year’s US Open.
McIlroy addressed the speculation surrounding his relationship status in a statement to The Guardian – two days before the opening round of the US Open.
Hull, pictured with fellow golfer and pal Georgia Hall (second left), keeps her romances private
McIlroy sealed the career Grand Slam after 11 agonizing years of trying at Augusta National
The Northern Irishman embraced his wife Erica following a turbulent year off the course
After defeating Justin Rose in a dramatic playoff, the Irishman rushed to his family at the 18th
‘There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game,’ McIlroy said.
‘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.
While last year’s bid for a fifth major was dominated by his turbulent love life, this year’s was the perfect example of a serene family life.
Stoll has been supporting her husband at courses around the world over the past nine months after he called off their shock split.
McIlroy won his second Players Championship in March, six years on from his maiden triumph, and was joined by Stoll and Poppy at TPC Sawgrass.
His family were also in Dubai to watch his season-ending success at the DP World Championships last November, which clinched a sixth Race to Dubai title.
