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The famous faces Rory McIlroy will call his neighbours after big London move
@Source: irishmirror.ie
Fresh off winning the Masters and completing the career grand slam, Rory McIlroy is set to move his family to London.
The 36-year-old ended his long major drought last month by winning the only major championship missing from his impressive resume. In the process, the join an elite club of golfers to win the career grand slam.
It was a monkey off his back for McIlroy, who celebrated the triumph by returning home to Holywood in Northern Ireland to see his parents.
But before landing in Belfast, he and his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter Poppy made a pit-stop in their private jet in London to see the Surrey mansion the family plans to live in.
McIlroy and his family have been living for several years in a palatial home in Jupiter, Florida, in a neighbourhood filled with mega-rich golfers, actors and business people.
The sunny Florida weather undoubtedly suits McIlroy's golfing ambitions as its climate and resources allow him to practice all year round.
But the five-time major champion has made no secret of his and his wife's desire to move to the UK, with the pair buying a property on the estate of Wentworth Golf Club a couple of years ago.
And after reportedly spending over €10 million on renovations to the Surrey home, the McIlroys are now expected to move in next month.
In doing so, they will join a rich history of famous names who have made their homes in an area known for its exclusivity.
In the world of golf, McIlroy's neighbours are set to include the likes of South African legend Ernie Els and former Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn, while Irish compatriot Paul McGinley has a house in nearby Sunningdale, as does another former Ryder Cup captain in Sam Torrance. Justin Rose, who McIlroy beat in a playoff to win the Masters, also lives in the area.
Former Chelsea captain John Terry is a keen golfer and lives close to Wentworth, as does former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, another lover of the game. In times past, Formula One legend Eddie Jordan also owned a house in the area, as did Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko.
McIlroy's other neighbours will include the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, who is a resident of Wentworth Estate, and Russian oligarch Petr Aven. Aidan Heavey, the founder of Tullow Oil, also owns a property on the estate.
The plush surroundings of Wentworth and the easy access to the city of London and international airports have attracted people from all walks of life.
Music stars Elton John and Cliff Richard and have both owned houses in the area down through the years. Wentworth Estate has also been home to the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, and chat show king, Michael Parkinson.
But living in the affluent area hasn't been for everyone. In a 2019 interview with Uncut music magazine, New Wave musician Gary Numan said: “I had a big neo-Georgian house on Wentworth golf course, but I was convinced it was haunted.
"Some weird s*** had been going on – I’d come home and the house was in darkness when I was convinced I’d left the lights on.
"So one day, I made a point of turning on every single light in the house. I got back from the studio and – f*** me – the house was in total darkness.”
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