Rory McIlroy Shares How Watching Bridgerton and Spending Time with Family Helped Him Stay Calm During His Historic Masters Victory at Augusta

Rory McIlroy recently shared an unexpected way he relaxed during his career-defining week at the Masters.

The Northern Irish golfer, who made history by becoming the sixth player ever to win the career Grand Slam, revealed that his downtime was filled with something a little less intense than preparing for a major championship—watching Netflix’s Bridgerton.

Finding Distractions in Unexpected Places

McIlroy, who triumphed in a thrilling playoff against Justin Rose at Augusta last month, admitted that his mind needed a break from the high pressure of the Masters.

Having had a painful history at Augusta—infamously losing a four-shot lead in 2011—many questioned whether McIlroy could ever conquer the prestigious course.

But it was during this crucial week, away from the golf course, that McIlroy found solace in some unexpected ways.

“I think the week of the Masters, for me, I am trying to distract myself with doing anything,” McIlroy shared with Jimmy Fallon while donning his iconic green jacket.

“I’m trying not to watch anything related to the tournament, not even sports news. I try to avoid it completely and focus on other things—like reading a book or watching a show.”

Netflix and Chill with Erica

When Fallon asked McIlroy what he watched during his downtime, McIlroy revealed a fun and surprising choice: Bridgerton.

“I was watching Bridgerton with my wife,” McIlroy confessed, which got a laugh from the audience.

“It was her decision! But I actually got into it. It was good!”

The show, known for its steamy scenes, had McIlroy hooked, making it a memorable part of his Masters experience.

But that wasn’t all. On Saturday, McIlroy also took time to enjoy Zootopia with his daughter.

“On the Saturday, you don’t tee off until pretty late, so there’s a lot of dead time in the morning,” he explained.

“I watched Zootopia with my daughter that day.”

A Year of Change and Resolution

It’s been almost a year since McIlroy and his wife Erica went through a tough patch.

In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce, but within a month, he shared that he and Erica had worked through their differences.

“There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy told the public.

“Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together.

“Thankfully, we’ve resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

What’s Next for McIlroy?

With the Masters now behind him, McIlroy is already gearing up for his next challenge: the US PGA Championship.

Set to take place from May 15-18 at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, a course where McIlroy has found significant success, he’s looking to add another major to his already impressive career.

But before that, he might need a few more TV suggestions from Erica to keep his mind off the pressure.

So, what’s next for McIlroy? The road to more major victories might just require a few more hours of Bridgerton and family time to get through the busy weeks ahead.