Rory McIlroy’s daughter Poppy, 4, asked him | Sports News

Rory McIlroy has opened up about a touching second together with his daughter following his victory on the Players Championship final month, revealing her lovely response after classmates talked about him in school.

McIlroy, who’s gearing up for this week’s Masters – the season’s first main – arrived in prime type after triumphing over J.J. Spaun in a playoff at TPC Sawgrass. The win marked his second Players title and got here on the heels of his success at Pebble Beach, making the timing impeccable.

During a press convention at Augusta National on Tuesday, the world No. 2 shared how his four-year-old daughter Poppy’s awareness of his occupation has modified now that she’s outdated enough to understand the idea.

“After the Players, it was the first time she sort of realized what I did,” McIlroy defined. “That was really cool, also a little scary at the same time. Look, it’s amazing that I can share these things with her and Erica [Stoll]. The day after the Players she went into school and there were some kids who had said some stuff to her. She came home and said: ‘Daddy are you famous?’ – I said ‘it depends who you talk to!’

“It’s a bit of a double-edged sword, you must mood the expectations generally however she’s… as everybody is aware of who’s had kids, it is an wonderful addition to life and it is great that she’s right here this week.”

McIlroy is feeling the heat this week as he aims to secure the career grand slam and claim the coveted Green Jacket. Despite numerous close calls, his stellar 2025 form has positioned him as a favorite at Augusta.

Already boasting two victories this season, McIlroy seems well-positioned for a win this weekend. The 35-year-old golfer experienced a devastating defeat at last year’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst, leaving the course before Bryson DeChambeau was awarded the trophy.

Nevertheless, McIlroy is prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions that come with golfing in Georgia this week. “I believe over the course of my profession I believe I’ve confirmed fairly a lot of resilience from setbacks, and I really feel like I’ve performed the identical again, particularly post-June final yr and the golf that I’ve performed since then, and it is one thing that I’m actually proud of,” said McIlroy.

“Look, you might have setbacks and you’ve got disappointments, however as long as you’ll be able to study from them and transfer ahead and attempt to put these learnings into apply I really feel like may be very, very important.

“I feel like I’ve shown that quite a lot over the course of my career. Look, when you have a long career like I have had, luckily, you sort of just learn to roll with the punches, the good times, the bad times, knowing that if you do the right work and you practice the right way, that those disappointments will turn into good times again pretty soon.”