1 week Ago By Matthew Neschis
Caroline Wozniacki, the tennis sensation and former flame of Rory McIlroy, seemed to take a subtle swipe at her ex during the Masters as he faced ups and downs on the Augusta greens. McIlroy's week at has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, with his wife Erica Stoll by his side and their daughter Poppy capturing hearts at the Par 3 contest. However, McIlroy's performance took a dramatic turn with a late collapse on the opening day after an "inexcusable" error, only to make a stunning comeback on Friday and Saturday to lead by two shots.
Wozniacki, who was engaged to McIlroy after dating for three years from 2011, watched the events unfold with keen interest. The golfer had proposed to the then world No.1 tennis player in December 2013, but infamously ended their engagement over a phone call shortly after wedding invitations were sent out.
Now, over a decade since their split, Wozniacki joined ESPN at Augusta National, reflecting on the significance of the Masters. Speaking on Friday, she remarked: "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. "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.
" Wozniacki has candidly expressed her fascination with the trials top athletes face, particularly in golf, admitting she finds it intriguing to watch the greats like McIlroy struggle under pressure. "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 said.
"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." The former tennis star's comments come as spectators on social media speculate that she was referring to McIlroy's performance after he carded an even 72 on Thursday and dodged the press post-round.
Social media users didn't hold back, with one saying, "Caroline Wozniacki broke Rory," while another pointed out, "@espn y'all are messy for interviewing Caroline Wozniacki while Rory is struggling." Another viewer noted the timing of McIlroy's improvement: "Rory birdies his last two holes at the same time ESPN is doing him dirty." Despite the rocky start, McIlroy bounced back magnificently, climbing the leaderboard with a second-round 66, featuring consecutive birdies and an eagle, leaving fans and commentators alike in awe of his resilience.
Wozniacki, 34, made it clear that golfer Rory McIlroy isn't in her list of favourites for this year's Masters, revealing a family betting tradition. "David and I, my husband, we always pick a winner before the tournament starts," she shared. "We pick one that we think has a big chance of winning, and that was [Ludvig] Aberg.
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