What Rory McIlroy Viewed Prior to His Masters Victory
When Rory McIlroy sought a distraction before the 2025 Masters, he and his wife, Erica Stoll, turned to television.
“So, I was watching Bridgerton with my wife, which was her choice, but I actually got into it,” McIlroy, 35, shared on the Thursday, May 1, episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. “It was really good.”
The Netflix period drama has three seasons available with a fourth in the works, and, as McIlroy pointed out, it doesn’t focus on the green.
“During the week of the Masters, I try to distract myself with anything else,” he explained. “I avoid watching tournament coverage or anything related to golf. I try not to look at sports news, so I read a book, watch a show, or a movie instead.”
Though it was his wife’s suggestion, McIlroy found himself quite impressed.
“I got into Bridgerton. I didn’t expect to,” he confessed. “I was initially against it, but Erica persuaded me. So we’ve been on a bit of a Bridgerton binge this week, for sure.”
That wasn’t all he watched. The night before winning the tournament, he chose to relax at the hotel with a popular romantic comedy.
“After returning to the hotel, I ordered room service, watched a bit of The Devil Wears Prada, and then went to bed,” he said. “And that was pretty much it.”
Since winning the Masters, McIlroy has been on a global tour, spending time in Northern Ireland, at his future home in London, and making the rounds on American talk shows. Such exposure comes with the territory of winning the prestigious green jacket, but the career Grand Slam champion is ready for some downtime.
“I’m looking forward to a few days off, kicking back, and recharging a bit,” he expressed.
Now three weeks after he donned the green jacket, athletes and celebrities all over have reached out to congratulate him, including Tiger Woods and his personal favorite, Elton John.
“His assistant left me a voicemail saying, ‘Sir Elton would love to congratulate you in person. The only issue is he doesn’t have a cell phone, so expect a call from a landline number in Windsor, England,’” McIlroy shared with Fallon. “And I’m like, ‘Sure!’ But we haven’t managed to connect yet, so I really want to reach out. But it’s Elton John, which is so amazing! I didn’t even know he was interested in golf.”
