Rory McIlroy has etched his name among golf's elite, securing a long-awaited triumph at the Masters on Sunday - but his celebrations may not be as "hectic" as an evening spent with Meghan Markle over a decade ago.
The Northern Irishman wrapped up the final major of his 18-year with a clutch performance at the Masters, winning the coveted trophy in a nail-biting playoff hole against Justin Rose. Both competitors were tied after the final round, each sitting on 11-under following the initial four days of golf.
McIlroy had a chance to snatch the title with a six-foot birdie putt, but he saw it slip by, pushing the contest to another hole. However, his resilience paid off as the 35-year-old sunk a birdie right after Rose faltered on the same putt moments before.
This monumental victory wiped away 11 years of frustration, sending him into an exclusive club of just six golfers who've achieved the Grand Slam by winning all four majors. McIlroy's sensational win will be spoken about for decades in the sport and perhaps earn him private congratulations from British royalty.
This is due to a "hectic" encounter in 2014 with Markle - who would become the Duchess of Sussex - that helped McIlroy make headlines for more than his escapades on the course.
That year was a successful one for McIlroy as he won both the PGA Championship and the Open Championship, and also met then-actress Markle, who was best known for her role in the TV series Suits.
As chronicled in the tell-all book 'Revenge: The Meghan and Harry Story' by Tom Bowman, Markle's night out in New York City intermingled with McIlroy's, while she was visiting a friend in the hustling metropolis.
The night out was described as "hectic," and Markle was nominated by McIlroy to join in on the latest craze at the time - the Ice Bucket Challenge.
This trend saw individuals soaked with a bucket of icy water to support ALS research, with participants then challenging others to do the same. Markle agreed to take part but only if McIlroy drenched her with the ice water, which he did, resulting in a video that was posted on social media.
In his book, Bowman writes: "She accepted the challenge, on condition that Rory came to her friend's apartment and personally poured the bucket over her on the balcony. After the video was posted, the two went to the Fitzpatrick hotel for a drink."
These drinks seemingly took a toll on McIlroy's golfing abilities, as he competed in an unspecified tournament the next day and failed to replicate the success he would later achieve at the Masters more than a decade on.
Bowman added: "The following morning, McIlroy arrived at the Ringwood golf course to play in a new competition. Worse for wear after a hectic night, he fell back to 101st place.
"His performance suffered. 'I wasn't quite on my game,' he confessed. 'I was enjoying myself'."
Today, McIlroy is a Grand Slam champion, having secured the much-coveted green jacket that many golfers dream of. He is married to Erica Stroll, whom he married in 2017, and together, they have a daughter named Poppy.
On the other hand, Markle found love with none other than Prince Harry, and the pair tied the knot in a Royal wedding in 2018. The couple now live in America after stepping back from the Royal Family in 2020, and are parents to two children - Archie and Lilibet.
Now, both Royal enthusiasts and golf fans might wonder if the Duchess of Sussex will contact her old friend to congratulate him on his extraordinary achievement in the sport.
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