Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has snared the most important birdie of his life, announcing his engagement to tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki.
McIlroy used the New Year’s Eve fireworks at Sydney Harbour as the spectacular backdrop for his midnight proposal, with the sporting love match hitting Twitter to make their big announcement.
“Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014 #shesaidyes!!” McIlroy tweeted on Wednesday morning.
Wozniacki, 23, proudly posted a photo of her diamond engagement ring, saying she said “YES!!!” after McIlroy popped the question.
“Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! … I said YES!!!” Wozniacki tweeted.
The two former world No.1s celebrated New Year’s Eve in Sydney as Wozniacki prepares for the Australian Open starting on January 13.
The Dane withdrew from this week’s Brisbane International citing a sore serving shoulder but still plans to contest the Sydney International starting on Sunday.
McIlroy’s engagement rounds out a memorable month for the Northern Irishman after he ran down Adam Scott to win the Australian Open at Royal Sydney for his first tournament success of an otherwise disappointing 2013 on the course.
After starting the season as world No.1, McIlroy ended the year ranked sixth – but celebrating his greatest conquest in Australia.
McIlroy and Wozniacki, who began dating in 2011, both posted photos of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and fireworks, as well as a picture of a giant rock on the Dane’s left hand when revealing their engagement.
While the glamour couple spend months of the year apart, they still support each other in their respective pursuits whenever they can, with Wozniacki donning overalls to caddie for McIlroy in a par-three competition on the eve of this year’s Masters.
They won’t be the first famous golf-tennis double act to get married, with Greg Norman – like McIlroy a two-time major champion – wedding fellow former world No.1 Chris Evert in 2008.
Norman and Evert’s marriage lasted only 15 months before the two divorced.
McIlroy and Wozniacki’s union has endured some rocky times too.
Their announcement on Wednesday comes a year after the Dane appeared at Brisbane International with a large ring on her left ring finger, sparking a flurry of engagement rumours.
In February in Kuala Lumpur, Wozniacki said engagement was a question for McIlroy to answer but added, “I enjoy everything that’s happening right now and how things are. Marriage? We’re still young and we have many years in front of us.”
By October, with both mired in winless slumps, there was talk of a romantic split.
That talk faded after Wozniacki won in Luxembourg to end her own win drought of more than a year, with McIlroy tweeting his congratulations, saying “#21 #luxembourg #mygirl @CaroWozniacki.”
