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Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki are sports’ It couple no more, the two-time major golf champion announcing Wednesday that he had called off his engagement to his tennis star fiancee after they sent out wedding invitations.
"There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people," McIlroy said in a statement ahead of this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in England.
"The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails," he said. "I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had."
The couple had been one of the athletic world’s power duos, dubbed "Wozilroy," or "Wozzilroy," since they met in 2011. Despite what tabloid publications had reported and McIlroy had declined to confirm or deny was an on-again/off-again relationship, they announced their engagement -- on Twitter, naturally -- in January after the formerly top ranked golfer proposed to tennis’ ex-No. 1 on New Year’s Eve.
Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it's going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!! pic.twitter.com/gxO7rDDyPY
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) December 31, 2013
McIlroy arrived at Wentworth following several days with Wozniacki in London for a "bit of shopping and [to] see a few shows," and then to the pair’s go-to getaway in Monaco, which he said was the plan after he finished T6 at The Players Championship on May 11.
As recently as Sunday, all seemed well with McIlroy and Wozniacki, according to his Twitter account.
Nice view for dinner with @CaroWozniacki at Nobu Monte Carlo pic.twitter.com/R48Q1o7vrL
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) May 18, 2014
A number of professional, personal, and business issues conspired to send the 2012 PGA and European Tour Player of the Year into a tailspin on the course last year. Though still without a victory this year, McIlroy has shown signs that his game was back on track, after defeating newly crowned top dog Adam Scott in Australia in December, nearly winning the Honda Classic in March but collapsing down the stretch, and earning five additional top-10s in the 2013-14 PGA Tour season.
He noted that the latest upheaval in his life could produce wobbly results in competition.
"I'm not going to lie," a dispirited McIlroy told reporters later, according to Reuters’ Tony Jimenez. "It's going to be really difficult but when I get inside the ropes, I'm going to have to try and concentrate on the matter in hand.
"There is never a good time to end a relationship, I guess," he said. "I made a commitment to be here at the European Tour’s flagship event ... and I thought it was my duty to come back and play in this event. Once I gave my word that I would, I wasn’t going to go back on it."