‘Practical’ McIlroy to sell €2.3m home

Golfing superstar Rory McIlroy is set to move back in with his parents after deciding to put his luxury Co Down home on the market.

But the manager of the world No 1 golfer last night denied that the decision to sell his €2.3m Moneyreagh pad had any security implications following his comments on feeling “more British than Irish”.

Horizon Sports Management’s Conor Ridge said: “This is purely a practical and a commercial decision, there were no security issues whatsoever.”

McIlroy confessed last year that life was becoming intolerable in Northern Ireland due to his high profile.

Justifying his decision to rejoin the US Tour last year, he said he was leading a goldfish bowl existence in Ulster.

Speaking 13 months ago, McIlroy said: “It is tough and definitely a lot tougher than it was three months ago.

“There have been people driving up the driveway at home, which isn’t very nice, but as I said the other day, it is something I am just going to have to deal with. It definitely has a little bit to do with my decision to base myself in America... I have had security guards at my house every night since I won the US Open, patrolling around the area. It is something that I just had to put in place, I’m afraid.

“It’s tough but it is just the world we live in unfortunately. If you’re in the position we’re in, you’re so public.”

McIlroy revealed yesterday that his accountants have advised him to sell his 14-acre estate at Robinhall House near Moneyreagh in Co Down because he is rarely at home.

“It has been an extremely difficult decision, as I have invested so much, both financially and emotionally, in the house and practice facilities there. However, with my global tournament schedule and ever-increasing schedule in the US, I am now only making it back home to Northern Ireland for a couple of weeks here and there during the summer months and at Christmas time.”

The five-bedroom house, which boasts a state-of-the-art practice range, an all-weather tennis court, a five-a-side football court, and a freshwater pond, is expected to sell for over €2.5m.

McIlroy bought the house more than three years ago, when he was based mainly on the European Tour, and admits it’s tough to sell up. “I have had to think long and hard about this and it has been a gut-wrenching decision, but the reality is that it is just not practical for me to own a property like this anymore when I rarely get to use it.

“My main priority when I get home nowadays is spending time with my friends and family.

“Hanging out with my parents and enjoying my Mum’s home cooking is what I love most about being home in Northern Ireland, so in a funny way, it will suit me to stay with Mum and Dad when I am home in future.”

McIlroy, 23, was celebrating again last week when he won the BMW Championship in Indiana, his third US Tour victory in four outings and last night teed it up in the Tour Championship in Atlanta hoping for a win that would land him the $10m FedEx Cup bonus.

A close friend said: “The facts speak for themselves. Rory is on the road almost 50 weeks of the year and he has not had any time to enjoy the house and the cost of its upkeep and maintenance for such little use are ridiculous.

“His home will always be Northern Ireland and he will return home as much as possible.”

McIlroy currently rents a luxury property in swish West Palm Beach in Florida but he is not expected to buy a US base just yet.