The new sports couple, Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki

Not only did Rory McIlroy get caught on the wrong side of the split at the Open Championship, but he also split with his girlfriend before the championship. The 22-year-old U.S. Open winner and his long time girlfriend Holly Sweeney broke up ahead of the week at Royal St. George’s

Mcllroy with his girlfriend

“Rory McIlroy’s long-term relationship with Holly Sweeney came to an amicable end before the British Open,” an International Sports Management spokesman (ISM) said.

It was reported earlier in the year that the duo had split up just months after McIlroy decided to decline PGA Tour membership – a decision he said that was largely influenced by his relationship with Sweeney.With McIlroy near his first major championship win at the Masters, ISM flew in Sweeney to Augusta as a surprise for the potential champion. After his final round 80, Sweeney was there to console McIlroy.

Just two weeks ago, McIlroy spoke publicly about how he had to grovel and work to get Sweeney back after their initial split – crediting her as the inspiration behind his 8-shot U.S. Open win, as well as keeping him grounded.

Wozniacki

There’s another twist to the story, as well. A tennis blogger in the U.K. took pictures of McIlroy with top-rated tennis player Caroline Wozniacki on Sunday night in London, including what appears to be the pair kissing on a corner outside of a cafe. Yahoo!’s Busted Racquet blogs reports the photos were since removed (seemingly as an act of conscience), but live on thanks to the ole right-click-save-as move that makes the Internet go (and that’s a good thing).

Irish Golf Desk reported Monday evening that sources near McIlroy confirm a “close friendship” has formed between the two athletes.If the two are together, that’d be a rather compelling couple. McIlroy would be ahead of Wozniacki on majors, though.