Featured Image Credit: X/@McIlroyRory
Topics: Celebrity, Meghan Markle, Sport, Royal Family
Rhiannon Ingle
Topics: Celebrity, Meghan Markle, Sport, Royal Family
Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy may have won the grand slam on Sunday (13 April), but it's clearly far from the first time he's made headlines following a reportedly 'hectic' night out with Meghan Markle over a decade back.
Back in 2014, Rory met up with the now-Duchess of Sussex in New York City where they teamed up to hop on the latest viral trend at the time - the Ice Bucket Challenge.
The challenge in question saw participants pouring of a bucket of ice water over a person's head either by another person or self-administered, in order to raise awareness of the disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease).
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In a book published back in 2022 titled Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the war between the Windsors, author Tom Bower wrote that the 43-year-old Suits actress bumped into Rory, 35, in the Big Apple while she was staying with a friend.
According to Bower, the night out the pair enjoyed was reportedly 'hectic' and Meghan was later nominated by the golfing legend to take part in the Ice Bucket Challenge.
Now, Meghan was much obliging but under one condition: that Rory would be the one who poured the water - something he seemed clearly more than happy to do.
"She accepted the challenge, on condition that Rory came to her friend’s apartment and personally poured the bucket over her on the balcony," Bowman wrote, before referencing video footage of the moment that was posted to social media.
"Awesome to help @meghanmarkle take on the #ALSIceBucketChallenge today!!" Rory captioned one tweet. "Such a good sport!"
"After the video was posted, the two went to the Fitzpatrick hotel for a drink."
Such reported drinks apparently affected Rory's golf game in his unnamed tournament the following day.
"The following morning, McIlroy arrived at the Ringwood golf course to play in a new competition," Bowman continued. "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'."
Meghan went on to marry Prince Harry in 2018 before welcoming two children together: Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Rory, on the other hand, tied the knot with his wife Erica Stoll in 2017 and the pair share one daughter together named Poppy.
Tyla has reached out to both Rory McIlroy and Meghan Markle's representatives for comment.