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Rory McIlroy's Family Led by Parents, Gerry and Rosie, Paved Way for Masters Story

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jonathan Adams | Last updated Apr 12, 2025 11:48 AM ET

Rory McIlroy's family would love nothing more than to see the star golfer finally win the Masters, with parents Gerry and Rosie paving the way his PGA Tour journey. Rory always makes it clear where he is from: Holywood, Northern Ireland. The star golfer is proud of his Irish nationality.

"Ireland has every challenge a golfer could hope for," Rory wrote for The Independent on Nov. 6, 2015. "North and south. I am, of course, a little biased, but my home courses of Royal County Down and Royal Portrush are just fantastic.

"My hometown, Holywood, Northern Ireland, is a picturesque little coastal town with very welcoming people, superb restaurants and homely pubs."

In addition to Rory's wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy, the golfer's mom Rosie and dad Gerry make up the star's proud family.

According to ESPN's Marty Smith, Rory's dad worked three jobs while his mother endured the graveyard shift to help provide for the family.

"They basically never saw each other," Rory told ESPN for an April 2, 2017, feature. "We didn't take a family holiday for over a decade. I'm an only child, so I was always so close with my parents growing up.

"They are like best friends. I can tell them anything, lean on them, ask them for advice."

Rory McIlroy shares a heartfelt message for his mom, Rosie ❤️ pic.twitter.com/qVuiOfeaxi
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 12, 2024

As Rory looks to win his first green jacket, the pressure seems to increase each year. Yet, nothing compares to the early hardships Rory's family endured that eventually led to these seemingly annual opportunities for the golfer to contend at the Masters.

Back in 2014, Rory spoke glowingly about his mother's impact on his life.

Rory McIlroy's parents are out following the action at The Open. pic.twitter.com/rcl6nRJTLC
— GOLF.com (@GOLF_com) July 18, 2021

"Yeah, my mom's amazing," Rory told CBS on May 12, 2024. "I think most people know my dad, but my mom Rosie is like the the sort of rock or the gel that holds our family together.

"She always has been and I said this last night. I am probably a lot more like my dad than I am my mom, but I wish I was a little more like my mom at times."

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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