**Rory McIlroy Set to Join Star-Studded Neighbourhood Following Masters Triumph**
Golfing icon Rory McIlroy is preparing for a significant move back to the UK, following his historic victory at the Masters where he clinched the final major required to complete the revered career grand slam. After several years spent in Florida’s sunshine, McIlroy, his wife Erica Stoll, and their daughter Poppy are expected to settle in their newly-refurbished Surrey residence, joining a community renowned for its concentration of famous faces and wealthy residents.
The 36-year-old’s Masters win not only ended a prolonged drought in major championships but also granted him entry into one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs—those to have won all four major tournaments. Upon securing this prestigious achievement, McIlroy took a trip to his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland, to celebrate with family. However, before returning to Belfast, the family stopped in London via private jet to inspect their future home on the esteemed Wentworth Golf Club estate.
Florida’s Jupiter community has provided a luxurious base for McIlroy in recent years, offering proximity to top-level golf facilities and a roster of neighbours that includes athletes and celebrities. Yet, both McIlroy and his wife have long expressed a desire to relocate closer to family and Europe’s golfing centres, having reportedly acquired the Surrey property several years ago. Now, following an extensive refurbishment costing over £8.4million, their long-awaited move is imminent.
Wentworth’s reputation as a celebrity enclave is well deserved. Among McIlroy’s prospective neighbours are an array of golfing greats, including Ernie Els, former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn, and fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, who resides nearby in Sunningdale. Other prominent figures such as Justin Rose—whom McIlroy famously outplayed in the Masters playoff—also call the area home, underscoring the estate’s magnetic allure for successful sportspeople.
But it is not just golfers who occupy this lavish postcode. Footballing royalty John Terry, the former Chelsea captain, is known for his love of golf and resides close to Wentworth, as does ex-cricketer Kevin Pietersen. Previously, the estate counted F1 figure Eddie Jordan, who died in March, and celebrated Ukrainian striker Andriy Shevchenko among its occupants, adding to its rich tapestry of sporting connections.
The opulence of the neighbourhood is further amplified by the presence of international financiers and aristocrats. Residents include Russian magnate Petr Aven, the Sultan of Brunei—one of the world’s wealthiest individuals—and Aidan Heavey, the founder of Tullow Oil. The neighbourhood’s strategic proximity to London and Heathrow Airport has proven particularly attractive for those with business interests spanning the globe.
Beyond the world of sport and business, the area has an illustrious celebrity pedigree. Over the years, music legends such as Sir Elton John and Sir Cliff Richard have had homes in the vicinity. Notable recent or former residents have included Chile’s ex-head of state Augusto Pinochet, Sarah Ferguson the Duchess of York, and the late broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson.
However, the estate’s exclusivity is not universally adored by its previous inhabitants. The musician Gary Numan once described eerie experiences in his former Wentworth mansion, suggesting that such privileged settings can also come with their own peculiarities.
McIlroy’s move signals both a new chapter for his family and a return to familiar territory. For the five-time major winner, the shift from the subtropics of Florida to the leafy surrounds of Surrey offers not just a change in climate but the opportunity to embed himself among a diverse community of fellow international achievers.
It remains to be seen how the transition will influence McIlroy’s golf going forward. Yet with access to world-class facilities, prominent neighbours, and perhaps a renewed sense of home, the newly crowned grand slam champion is poised to embark on the next stage of his career surrounded by some of the UK’s—and indeed the world’s—most fascinating residents.