26 May 2014

McIlroy says tournament win unlike his marriage

7:00 am on 26 May 2014

The Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy was pinching himself after ending one of the most turbulent weeks of his life by winning the British PGA Championship in England, describing the victory, unlike his aborted engagement, as "meant to be".

McIlroy, who announced the day before the start of the tournament that his planned wedding to Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki had been called off, could not believe he had pulled off a victory in the European Tour's flagship event.

At the time the 25-year-old said the best place for him to be was out on the golf course and he proved himself right, recording a final round six-under-par 66 to secure the fairytale victory.

McIlroy started the closing round seven strokes behind runaway leader Thomas Bjorn but the Dane slid out of contention with a final-round 75.