ESPN viewers speculated that former World No. 1 tennis star Caroline Wozniacki might’ve taken an unsubtle dig at Rory McIlroy amid the Northern Irishman’s slow start to The Masters
Golf fans couldn’t help but sit up and take notice as Caroline Wozniacki appeared to fire an unsubtle dig at her ex-boyfriend Rory McIlroy amid his early struggles in The Masters.
McIlroy has had a rollercoaster week already at Augusta. He’s being supported by wife Erica Stoll as the pair shared a telling moment, while daughter Poppy stole the show at the Par 3 contest. When the serious action started, he had a late collapse on Day 1 after an “inexcusable” mistake before roaring back in style on Friday.
Watching on the second day was tennis star Wozniacki, who he is very familiar with having dated for three years beginning in 2011. The golfer eventually popped the question to the former World No. 1 tennis star in December of 2013, but called off their wedding over the phone mere days after the invites were posted.
11 years after her relationship with McIlroy came to an abrupt end, Wozniacki sat down with ESPN at Augusta National to share her thoughts on The Masters. “As an athlete, I think there’s some places that are so iconic that are on the bucket list, and this and Wimbledon are so special,” she said on Friday.
“There’s so much tradition here. When you arrive at the premises, there’s just something about not having your phone, really being in the moment. You see everything. It’s just so beautiful, and to be able to be here with my husband and enjoying it, just the two of us, no kids, no distractions, it’s really, really nice.”
While discussing the challenges that players face while performing in one of the most prestigious tournaments, Wozniacki conceded that she enjoys watching the biggest names in golf struggle – a criteria which certainly applies to McIlroy.
There’s so much pressure here, it’s the small margins. These greens are so difficult, so if you don’t hit it at the perfect spot, you go from being in a position for maybe going for a birdie to being lucky getting a bogey,” she added.
“Watching someone who is so good at their craft I think has always been very inspiring, whether it’s tennis, golf, at work, whatever it is. As a spectator, it’s always fun to see when the best in the world are struggling, and that’s what you get here.”
Taking to social media, viewers suggested that Wozniacki could be talking about McIlroy, who finished Thursday even at 72 and refused to speak to reporters following the first-round implosion. “Caroline Wozniacki broke Rory,” one X user wrote, with another adding: “@espn y’all are messy for interviewing Caroline Wozniacki while Rory is struggling.”
A third chimed in, “Rory birdies his last two holes at the same time ESPN is doing him dirty.”
Fortunately for McIlroy, he rocketed up the leaderboard thanks to a stellar second round in which he shot a bogey-free 66. The 35-year-old sunk back-to-back birdies on the 10th and 11th holes before recording an eagle and birdie on Nos. 13 and 15, respectively.
As for Wozniacki, the 34-year-old divulged that McIlroy isn’t one of the golfers who she’s rooting for at this year’s Masters. “David and I, my husband, we always pick a winner before the tournament starts,” she said. “We pick one that we think has a big chance of winning, and that was [Ludvig] Aberg.”