Rory McIlroy explains change in daughter Poppy as he targets second Masters title

Jack Otway
Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:48:34 +0000

Rory McIlroy has spoken about his daughter's growing enthusiasm for golf, revealing that Poppy has become increasingly passionate about the sport over the past 12 months.

The Northern Irish golfer explained that her interest blossomed following her memorable appearance at last year's Par 3 contest at Augusta National.

"I really love that she started to get into the game a lot more, and it all stemmed from the putt last year at the Par 3," McIlroy said.

The five-year-old was so determined to participate properly this time that she demanded to bring her own equipment.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

"She made sure that I brought her putter up this year so that she could hit the putt with her putter, and not mine," he added.

Poppy returns to Augusta National today for the Par 3 contest, held on the nine-hole, par-27 course ahead of the 90th Masters, which gets underway on Thursday.

Her appearance last year captured global attention when footage of the youngster sinking a remarkable 25-foot putt spread rapidly across social media.

McIlroy arrives at Augusta as the defending champion after his triumph last year made him just the sixth player in golfing history to secure all four major titles.

The Holywood native is considered among the leading contenders to claim back-to-back green jackets, with Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau also fancied by bookmakers.

The putt itself was a masterclass in reading the green, with Poppy sending the ball down a treacherous slope before watching it track perfectly into the cup.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Adam Johnson's life now seven years after prison sentence for grooming 15-year-old girl

Premier League icon denies tax dodging after police launch investigation into hundreds of Deliveroo orders

Rory McIlroy makes Masters history before even hitting a shot

Her performance left McIlroy's playing partners Shane Lowry and Tommy Fleetwood thoroughly impressed, demonstrating natural ability that belied her young age.

However, the attention that followed proved somewhat overwhelming for the youngster, who retreated from the spotlight after her moment of glory.

McIlroy has described his daughter as "the most unbelievably polite, respectful and well-behaved little girl."

Despite her initial shyness following the viral moment, Poppy's confidence has clearly grown, with her enthusiasm for returning to Augusta evident in her preparations.

Away from the course, McIlroy spoke warmly about the joys of fatherhood and watching his daughter develop.

He noted that Poppy bears a striking resemblance to her mother in personality, describing her as "a mini Erica" and joking that "it's like living with two of them, which is great a lot of the time."

The four-time major winner reflected on the unique opportunities his career provides for his family.

He said the "coolest" thing about his life on tour is "to see her grow up, and to have her travel the world, to see different places to give her a life that I could only dream about when I was that age."