Rory McIlroy got a late start on preparations for his title defense this week at the PGA Tour's Tour Championship, but he had a good excuse: fatherhood.
Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born August 31st, 12:15pm. She is the absolute love of our lives. Mother and baby are doing great. Massive thank you to all the staff at Jupiter Medical Center and Dr Sasha Melendy for their amazing care ❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/IwFeGf8rod
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) September 3, 2020
McIlroy and his wife, Erica, announced the Aug. 31 birth of their first child, daughter Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, in Jupiter, Fla. Upon arriving Thursday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, the site of the season finale, which begins Friday, McIlroy conceded that he was “emotionally drained.”
On Sunday, the day before his daughter’s birth, McIlroy tied for 12th at the BMW Championship. After mother and child returned home Wednesday from the hospital, McIlroy headed north for Atlanta.
He also acknowledged something that any first-time parent quickly realizes with a newborn: “They don’t come with an instruction manual.”
McIlroy, 31, whose 18 victories on the PGA Tour include four major championships, will be seeking his first title since the WGC HSBC Champions on Nov. 3. He will start at 3 under, seven strokes behind Dustin Johnson, under the weighted scoring system at the FedEx Cup finale (tee times).
Sign up to receive the Morning Read newsletter, along with Where To Golf Next and The Equipment Insider.