Rory McIlroy Spotted At US Open Tennis Semi-Final In New York
The four-time Major winner was spotted watching the men's semi-final between Francis Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz
After finishing 12th at the Tour Championship, which concluded this season’s FedEx Playoffs, Rory McIlroy has a golf-free week, and he has taken advantage of the break to watch some tennis at the US Open in New York.
The four-time Major winner was spotted at the Arthur Ashe Stadium on Friday, where he took in the semi-final contest between US players Francis Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz.
Welcome, @McIlroyRory 👋 pic.twitter.com/wMJfYH4Du4September 7, 2024
McIlroy certainly picked a good match to attend, too, as the pair delivered a thriller before Fritz eventually triumphed in five sets to make it to his first Grand Slam final, where he will play World No.1 Jannik Sinner.
It’s not the first time McIlroy has headed to New York to decompress after the intensity of a tournament. Following golf’s US Open, where McIlroy lost in heartbreaking fashion to Bryson DeChambeau, he revealed he had wandered around the city in the days afterwards.
At the time, he said. “I went to Manhattan, which was nice.It was nice to sort of blend into the city a little bit. I walked around. I walked the High Line a couple of times. I made a few phone calls. I sort of was alone with my thoughts for a couple of days, which was good.”
There is still plenty of golf ahead for the 35-year-old this year, including an appearance at the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, later this month.
However, following his appearance at East Lake last week, he admitted he had “hit a bit of a wall” with a packed schedule throughout 2024 and revealed he planned to scale that back next year.
Get the top Black Friday deals right in your inbox: Sign up now!
The hottest deals and product recommendations during deals season straight to your inbox plus all the best game-changing tips, in-depth features and the latest news and insights around the game.
Despite that, later in the week, it was reported that he had committed to even more golf in the form of a TV match set for mid-December, in which he and fellow PGA Tour star Scottie Scheffler would face DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.
While all that is to come, it probably came as some relief to McIlroy to be the observer in a high-stakes battle this week rather than in the thick of the action.
McIlroy isn't the only high-profile golf figure who has been taking in the tennis. Trevor Immelman, who is a leader analyst on CBS Sports’ golf broadcast team, was at the same match as McIlroy.
This is gonna be fun….@usopen pic.twitter.com/y45oT34bnqSeptember 7, 2024
Earlier in the US Open, World No.1 Nelly Korda cheered on brother Seb during his second-round match, although he lost in straight sets to Tomas Machac.
🦁Following a T2 at The British Open, Nelly Korda spent some time at Flushing Meadows cheering brother Seb Korda on at The US Open 🎾 He plays his 2nd round matchup shortly this morning.[📸@NellyKorda ] Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/QGaDERpmqKAugust 29, 2024
Mike has over 25 years of experience in journalism, including writing on a range of sports throughout that time, such as golf, football and cricket. Now a freelance staff writer for Golf Monthly, he is dedicated to covering the game's most newsworthy stories.
He has written hundreds of articles on the game, from features offering insights into how members of the public can play some of the world's most revered courses, to breaking news stories affecting everything from the PGA Tour and LIV Golf to developmental Tours and the amateur game.
Mike grew up in East Yorkshire and began his career in journalism in 1997. He then moved to London in 2003 as his career flourished, and nowadays resides in New Brunswick, Canada, where he and his wife raise their young family less than a mile from his local course.
Kevin Cook’s acclaimed 2007 biography, Tommy’s Honour, about golf’s founding father and son, remains one of his all-time favourite sports books.
-
Quiz! Can You Name Every Player In The 2023 Ryder Cup?
There were 24 golfers involved. How many members of the two teams can you name?
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Quiz! Can You Name Every Player In The 2024 Solheim Cup?
There were 24 golfers involved. How many members of the two teams can you name?
By Roderick Easdale Published
-
Rory McIlroy Posts Heartfelt Message To 'Hero' And 'Inspiration' Rafa Nadal Following Tennis Icon's Retirement
The Spanish tennis player has left the game after 22 Grand Slam victories - and four-time Major winner McIlroy joined in with the messages of congratulations
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Proves Fierce Loyalty To Caddie With Heartfelt Message In Race To Dubai Victory Speech
Addressing Harry Diamond after winning the Race To Dubai, McIlroy thanked his best friend and called any stick he had received this year "unwarranted"
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Tearful Rory McIlroy Reacts To Seve Ballesteros Comparisons After Equalling Spaniard's Order Of Merit Record
In a highly-emotional interview immediately after holing the winning putt at the DP World Tour Championship, McIlroy was asked about equalling Severiano Ballesteros' European Tour Order of Merit record
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Rory McIlroy Wins DP World Tour Championship To Clinch Double Victory In Dubai
The World No.3 has landed a sixth Race To Dubai title - capped off by a third DP World Tour Championship victory at Jumeirah Golf Estates' Earth Course
By Jonny Leighfield Last updated
-
DP World Tour Championship Tee Times: Round Four
Rory McIlroy and Rasmus Hojgaard are the final pairing as the DP World Tour season concludes at the Jumeirah Golf Estates Earth Course
By Mike Hall Published
-
Scheffler Vs Schauffele Vs McIlroy: How The Stats Compare
Rory McIlroy said Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele have ‘separated themselves’ so we looked at the stats…
By Paul Higham Published
-
Rory McIlroy 'Would Pay For The Privilege' Of Playing In The Ryder Cup
Rory McIlroy can see the argument for players being paid to play in the Ryder Cup, but thinks it would upset the "purity" of the event for the Europeans
By Paul Higham Published
-
Rory McIlroy Admits Lack Of Fifth Major 'Stings' As He Grades 2024 Season
The World No.3 once again credited his own consistency after a year of several near-misses but admitted missing out on a fifth Major championship "stings"
By Jonny Leighfield Published