Rory McIlroy and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki dated for three years before they split in 2014
Before Rory McIlroy started dating his now-wife Erica Stoll, he was engaged to another successful athlete: tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.
The golfer, who won the 2025 Masters, and Wozniacki dated for several years before McIlroy proposed on New Year’s Eve in 2013. However, just a few months later, the two split.
“There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people,” McIlroy said in a statement at the time, per CNN. “The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails.”
McIlroy went on to marry Stoll in 2017, while Wozniacki married her husband, former NBA All-Star David Lee, in 2019.
They first confirmed their relationship in 2011
McIlroy first confirmed he and Wozniacki were dating in August 2011 to Telegram after the two were spotted spending time together ahead of the European Masters. McIlroy and Wozniacki were 22 and 21 at the time, respectively.
Before the competition kicked off, the couple attended the New Haven Open tennis tournament together.
Throughout their relationship, Wozniacki and McIlroy attended a number of industry events together, from world championships to tournaments. In 2013 and 2014, Wozniacki caddied for McIlroy at the Masters.
McIlroy also supported Wozniacki in her career, even joining her on the court at the BNP Paribas Showdown in 2012 where they faced off against Maria Sharapova.
McIlroy proposed on New Year’s Eve
After dating for over two years, McIlroy proposed to Wozniacki on New Year’s Eve in 2013 while they were ringing in the holiday in Sydney.
Wozniacki shared the news on X shortly after, alongside photos from the special moment, including a shot of her ring.
“Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! … I said YES!!!!” she wrote.
McIlroy ended their engagement over a phone call
Though Wozniacki caddied for McIlroy at the 2014 Masters in April, just a month later, the golfer confirmed in a statement that the two had split.
“I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had,” McIlroy said in his statement. “I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.”
After rumors swirled that McIlroy had ended their relationship over a brief phone call, Wozniacki confirmed months later that she hadn’t heard from him since.
“I was shocked. I thought at least I would get a face-to-face or something, but there was nothing. It was a phone call, and I did not hear from him again,” Wozniacki said during a September 2011 episode of In Depth with Graham Bensinger. “It kind of just ended.”
She added that the public nature of the breakup made the situation more difficult. “It was very hard because he made it very public from the start,” Wozniacki said. “He put out a press release and all of that so I didn’t have a choice, it just got put in my face.”
They have both since started their own families