Rory McIlroy is set to move his family from Florida to the UK next month, with the five-time major champion and his wife Erica Stoll having spent millions on renovations to their Surrey mansion
Following his Masters victory and the completion of his career grand slam, Rory McIlroy is set to move his family to London. The 36-year-old ended his 11-year major drought last month by securing the only major championship missing from his impressive CV, joining a select group of golfers who have won the career grand slam.
This was a significant accomplishment for McIlroy, who celebrated the win by returning to his hometown of Holywood in Northern Ireland to visit his parents.
However, before landing in Belfast, he, his wife Erica Stoll, and their daughter Poppy made a brief stop in London in their private jet to view the Surrey mansion they plan to live in.
For several years, McIlroy and his family have lived in a grand home in Jupiter, Florida, a neighbourhood chock-full of wealthy golfers, actors, and business people, according to the Irish Mirror.
The sunny Florida weather undoubtedly suits McIlroy’s golfing ambitions, as its climate and resources allow him to practice year-round. However, the five-time major champion has not hidden his and his wife’s desire to move to the UK, with the couple buying a property on the Wentworth Golf Club estate a few years ago.
After reportedly spending over £8.4million (€10m) on renovations to the Surrey home, the McIlroys are now expected to move in next month. In doing so, they will join a long list of famous names who have chosen to live in an area known for its exclusivity, reports Belfast Live.
In the elite circles of golf, McIlroy’s neighbours are to include South African icon Ernie Els and ex-Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn. His fellow Irishman Paul McGinley resides nearby in Sunningdale, joined by another Ryder Cup skipper, Sam Torrance. Masters playoff victor over Justin Rose, McIlroy will also share the locale with the accomplished golfer.
Chelsea icon and keen golfer John Terry is a resident within proximity to Wentworth, where ex-England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, also an enthusiast of the green, has made his home. Ex-Formula One boss Eddie Jordan – who passed away in March – and Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko once graced the area with their presence.
McIlroy’s notable neighbours extend to royalty with Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, on the Wentworth Estate and Russian oligarch Petr Aven. Wentworth has further allure for tycoons like Tullow Oil’s Aidan Heavey who owns a slice of this real estate heaven.
The opulence of Wentworth Estate, as well as its strategic location offering quick routes to London and key airports, lures a diverse profile of residents.
Music royalty such as Elton John and Cliff Richard have savoured the Wentworth life at some point. Even controversial figures like Chile’s one-time dictator Augusto Pinochet, alongside Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and television’s Michael Parkinson have enjoyed the grandeur here.
While many revel in the lap of luxury, for synth-pop pioneer Gary Numan, as he related to Uncut magazine back in 2019, it wasn’t quite the dream: “I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted,” he said.
“Some weird s*** had been going on – I’d come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I’d left the lights on. So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness.”