"Rory McIlroy reminisces about his most regrettable purchase, chuckling as he recalls spending his initial PGA Tour earnings"
Rory McIlroy Reflects on Early Career Purchases Ahead of BMW Championship
Rory McIlroy, the four-time major champion, is gearing up for this week's BMW Championship at the Caves Valley Golf Club in Maryland, aiming to secure his 30th PGA Tour title and his seventh Race to Dubai victory in Europe.
In a recent press conference, McIlroy discussed his early days of earning a living from golf, shedding light on one questionable purchase he made during those formative years. The Northern Irish golfer admitted to having regrets over a designer watch he bought with his first PGA Tour paycheque, without disclosing the brand.
McIlroy, who currently has an endorsement deal with Omega watches, clarified that the designer watch was not an Omega piece. He described the purchase as a "horrific" one, but refused to give any more details about the watch during the press conference.
The 33-year-old has had a successful career, earning over $107 million (£78.9m) in his 18-year professional career on the PGA Tour. He won $4.2m (£3.2m) in April 2023 after becoming the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam at The Masters.
In 2007, McIlroy made $20,530 for a T-42 finish at the British Masters, $286,769 with a third-place finish at the Alfred Dunhill Cup, and another $56,425 at the Madrid Open on the DP World Tour.
McIlroy has invested his wealth in various ventures, including buying a £16.5m mansion in Florida and creating the TGL (indoor simulator league) with Tiger Woods. Despite his busy schedule, he mentioned the need for an extra week off to prepare for the nine events he has scheduled between now and the end of the year.
The BMW Championship marks the continuation of the FedEx Cup playoffs, following the St. Jude Championship last week. McIlroy opted to skip the opening playoff event due to his busy schedule.
Looking ahead, McIlroy expressed interest in playing in important events such as the Irish Open, Wentworth, and the Ryder Cup. He aims to add more titles to his impressive tally, which currently stands at 29, with his first one coming at the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010.
Despite his success, McIlroy remains grounded, reflecting on his early days in the sport and the lessons he's learned along the way, including the importance of making wise financial decisions.
[1] McIlroy admits regrets over early career purchase [2] McIlroy bought a watch with diamonds as his first purchase with his PGA Tour paycheck [3] McIlroy's first PGA Tour paycheck was not spent on Omega watches [4] McIlroy declines to disclose the make and model of the watch he bought with his first PGA Tour paycheck
[1] In a recent press conference, McIlroy discussed his early days of earning a living from golf, shedding light on one questionable purchase he made during those formative years, admitting to having regrets over it.
[2] Rory McIlroy, who currently has an endorsement deal with Omega watches, clarified that the designer watch he bought with his first PGA Tour paycheque was not an Omega piece.
[3] McIlroy declined to give any more details about the watch during the press conference, leaving its make and model undisclosed.
