Monday, June 16, 2014

Golf: Wedding off, McIlroy's hot

It's official -- double major winner Rory McIlroy and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki are no more. McIlroy says he realized he wasn't ready for marriage when their wedding invitations were mailed out. When it comes to sport, the path of true love rarely runs smooth and in this gallery, CNN looks at sporting couples who have aced their relationships and those who have seen their private lives hit the rough.It's official -- double major winner Rory McIlroy and former world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki are no more. McIlroy says he realized he wasn't ready for marriage when their wedding invitations were mailed out. When it comes to sport, the path of true love rarely runs smooth and in this gallery, CNN looks at sporting couples who have aced their relationships and those wh o have seen their private lives hit the rough.
American lovebirds Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert won both singles titles at Wimbledon in 1974 and were engaged, but by the time the grass-court grand slam came around in 1975 the wedding was off. Decades after splitting from the eight-time grand slam champion, Evert swapped the tennis court for the golf course...American lovebirds Jimmy Connors and Chris Evert won both singles titles at Wimbledon in 1974 and were engaged, but by the time the grass-court grand slam came around in 1975 the wedding was off. Decades after splitting from the eight-time grand slam champion, Evert swapped the tennis court for the golf course...
After the break up of her marriage to British tennis player John Lloyd in 1987 and a divorce from Olympic skier Andy Mill in 2006, Evert tied the knot with Australian golf star Greg Norman. But it would not be a case of third time lucky for Evert as the pair separated in 2009 after 18-months.After the break up of her marriage to British tennis player John Lloyd in 1987 and a divorce from Olympic skier Andy Mill in 2006, Evert tied the knot with Australian golf star Greg Norman. But it would not be a case of third time lucky for Evert as the pair separated in 2009 after 18-months.
Adam Scott followed in the footsteps of his hero Norman by sparking a golf and tennis romance of his own in 2010 with Serbia's Ana Ivanovic. The pair split after both saw their form suffer, before unsuccessfully reuniting in 2011. Scott captured the first major title of his career at the Masters in 2013.Adam Scott followed in the footsteps of his hero Norman by sparking a golf and tennis romance of his own in 2010 with Serbia's Ana Ivanovic. The pair split after both saw their form suffer, before unsuccessfully reuniting in 2011. Scott captured the first major title of his career at the Masters in 2013.
When Australian Lleyton Hewitt began a romance with fellow tennis ace Kim Clijsters in 2000, the former world No. 1's country took the Belgian to their hearts. She was dubbed "Aussie Kim" and it looked like they were set to live happily ever after when a wedding was scheduled. The pair split in October 2004, but Clijsters would still find her happy ending...When Australian Lleyton Hewitt began a romance with fellow tennis ace Kim Clijsters in 2000, the former world No. 1's country took the Belgian to their hearts. She was dubbed "Aussie Kim" and it looked like they were set to live happily ever after when a wedding was scheduled. The pair split in October 2004, but Clijsters would still find her happy ending...
Now retired, Clijsters is happily married to former American basketball player Brian Lynch, with whom she has two children.Now retired, Clijsters is happily married to former American basketball player Brian Lynch, with whom she has two children.
Like Clijsters, Maria Sharapova found love on the basketball court. The four-time grand slam winner got engaged to former Los Angeles Lakers star Sasha Vujacic, before ending her relationship with the Slovenian in 2012. She is now dating fellow tennis star Grigor Dimitrov.Like Clijsters, Maria Sharapova found love on the basketball court. The four-time grand slam winner got engaged to former Los Angeles Lakers star Sasha Vujacic, before ending her relationship with the Slovenian in 2012. She is now dating fellow tennis star Grigor Dimitrov.
Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic knows more than most about the trials and tribulations of a tennis fling. He was engaged to marry former world No. 1 Martina Hingis before the two called off their nuptials in 2007. Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic knows more than most about the trials and tribulations of a tennis fling. He was engaged to marry former world No. 1 Martina Hingis before the two called off their nuptials in 2007.
Undeterred, Stepanek started a second tennis fling with compatriot Nicole Vaidisova and the couple married in June 2010, but subsequently announced they had filed for divorce. Stepanek has since dated 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova but they split in April.Undeterred, Stepanek started a second tennis fling with compatriot Nicole Vaidisova and the couple married in June 2010, but subsequently announced they had filed for divorce. Stepanek has since dated 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova but they split in April.
Tennis super stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are living proof that sporting couples can go the distance. The former world No. 1s married in 2001 and have two children together. Tennis super stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf are living proof that sporting couples can go the distance. The former world No. 1s married in 2001 and have two children together.
  • Rory McIlroy leads the Memorial Tournament by three shots after opening round
  • The Northern Irishman carded an nine-under par 63 in Ohio Thursday
  • The world No. 6 broke off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki last week
  • Wozniacki was knocked out of the French Open in the first round earlier this week

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(CNN) -- There's nothing worse than seeing your ex on top of the world while you're down in the dumps.

For two former halves of a sporting power couple, their fortunes could barely be more contrasting.

While Danish tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki crashed out of the French Open in the first round, her former fiancee Rory McIlroy has been playing some of the finest golf of his career.

The Northern Irishman broke off his engagement to Wozniacki on May 22 -- ending a three-year relationship -- before going on to win the European Tour's flagship event -- the BMW PGA Championship -- on Sunday thanks to an imperious final-round 66 at Wentworth.

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McIlroy upped his game further on Thursday, posting a nine-under par opening round 63 at the Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

The world No. 6 leads the field by three strokes, having missed out on the course record by two, and his stranglehold on the Jack Nicklaus event could have been even tighter had he not tweaked his left knee on the seventh hole.

"This has been coming," McIlroy, who will be attempting to win the U.S. Open for the second time in his career when it begins at Pinehurst on June 12, told the PGA Tour's official website.

"My performances have been really good, been shooting really good scores. There's just been runs of holes in tournaments where I haven't played so well and I've shot it four or five over in the space of nine holes, and that's really just derailed my tournament.

"Last week I just didn't do that and that's down to nothing more than hitting good golf shots and hitting good putts and limiting my mistakes whenever I get in trouble on the golf course."

McIlroy showed little sign of being hampered by his knee injury, which was picked up during his second shot at the seventh."I wear spikes, so sometimes your foot can get stuck in the ground and you can torque your knee a little too much," explained the 25-year-old.

"I think that's what I did, I tweaked it. The inside of it is sore, it's a little swollen. I'll go see the physio and get some treatment and get ice on it, and hopefully it will be OK for tomorrow."

Double Masters champion Bubba Watson, his fellow American Chris Kirk and Englishman Paul Casey are in a three-way tie for second, one shot ahead of 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley.

Read: Tiger Woods out of U.S. Open

Read: Girl, 11, makes U.S. Open history

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