Rory McIlroy has plans to return stateside after making a celebratory trip to his native Ireland following his Masters victory.
McIlroy, 35, will be on hand to compete alongside his friend Shane Lowry when the Zurich Classic of New Orleans tees off on Thursday, April 24. The Zurich Classic is the PGA Tour’s only FedEx Cup regular season two-man team event. McIlroy and Lowry, 38, won the event last year.
“We’ll be there,” Lowry told Golfweek. “I talked to him [Wednesday] morning. We’re good to go.”
Lowry added, “To be honest, I didn’t want him to feel like he had to play because of me. He’s not letting me down if he wanted to take some time. He feels like he wants to get back out there. He feels like next week is a good week to do it. So, yeah, we’ll be there.”
McIlroy won his elusive first Masters title on April 13, becoming the sixth golfer in history to win the career grand slam.
On Friday, April 18, McIlroy flew on a private jet to Ireland with 4-year-old daughter Poppy in tow. McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, was noticeably absent from the overseas jaunt.
Golfweek confirmed that McIlroy traveled to Ireland to celebrate his Masters victory with his parents, Rosie and Jerry, who were not in attendance at Augusta National Golf Club to see their son finally earn his green jacket.
Lowry — who has been close friends with McIlroy since their days as junior golfers growing up in Ireland — said he was “riding the emotions just like everybody else” watching McIlroy defeat Justin Rose in a sudden death playoff hole to secure his Masters triumph.
“I was happy for him because of everything that had gone on in the past and because of what could’ve been if it hadn’t gone his way,” Lowry reflected. “It’s one of your good friends doing the grand slam. It’s not something to be sniffed at. It might never happen again in my lifetime.”
The career grand slam is achieved when a golfer wins the Masters, U.S. Open, Open Championship and PGA Championship throughout the course of their career. McIlroy won the Masters during his 17th appearance at the historic tournament.
“It’s the best day of my golfing life and I’m very proud of myself, proud of never giving up,” McIlroy said after the tournament. “I’m proud of how I kept coming back and dusting myself off and not letting the disappointments get to me. It’s a dream come true. I have dreamt about this moment for as long as I can remember.”
McIlroy continued, “This feels incredible. It’s my 17th time here, and I started to wonder if it would ever be my time. I think the last 10 years of coming here with the burden of the grand slam on my shoulders, it weighed on me and I’m sort of wondering what we’re going to talk about going into next year’s Masters. I’m absolutely honored and thrilled, and so proud to be able to call myself a Masters champion.”
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