Daughter Poppy Behind Rory McIlroy’s Latest Tantrum at Augusta National: ‘I Rushed Out..’

“I’d rather not talk about it,” seems to be the sentiment Rory McIlroy echoed by refusing to speak to reporters after a disastrous close to his first round at the Masters. McIlroy had started strong, reaching 4 under par through 14 holes, but a stretch of two double bogeys in three holes dropped him back to even par, seven shots behind leader Justin Rose. By the end of the round, McIlroy had fallen to 27th place, a far cry from the contention he was expected to be in. Well, McIlroy has revealed the reason for his outburst and it’s far from anything anyone could’ve predicted.

Rory McIlroy’s post-round presser was all about resetting after a tough day on the green! After a disastrous round, McIlroy high-tailed it out of there to spend quality time with his mini-me, Poppy. “I rushed out of here to get home to see Poppy before she went to bed. So that was sort of nice to get to see her before she went to sleep.” Parenting win! Having a tiny human to distract him from golf drama is the ultimate reset button. This experience, McIlroy noted, is something he didn’t have a few years ago, and it helped him take his mind off the golf.

But McIlroy didn’t just wing it – he had a chat with his trusty sports psychologist Bob Rotella. “I had a good conversation with Bob Rotella this morning, mostly around not pushing too hard too early and trying to get those shots back straightaway,” he said. And guess what? It worked! McIlroy started the next round with eight pars and a birdie, all thanks to staying “really, really patient.” “I just tried to stay really, really patient. I feel like that patience was rewarded with a nice little stretch there in the middle of the round.”

Who knew patience could be so rewarding? Well, McIlroy certainly does and his little Poppy is the sweetest child ever!

Poppy gift to her dad after he won his second tournament of the year

Rory McIlroy’s win at THE PLAYERS Championship 2025 was the cherry on top of an already amazing day, but it was his adorable 4-year-old daughter Poppy who truly stole the show! After McIlroy dominated the tournament, topping J.J. Spaun in a thrilling three-hole aggregate playoff, he was greeted by his loving family, including Poppy, who had picked out a special little red flower just for him. “Poppy picked it for me,” McIlroy said with a warm smile, gently holding the flower that had clearly captured his heart. “She gave it to me just after I won. I think there was one more flower in it, but it disintegrated in my back pocket. But she, she gave it to me.” Talk about a sweet victory gift!

The moment between McIlroy and Poppy was pure magic! As they shared a tender forehead kiss, fans couldn’t help but go weak in the knees. Even CBS reporter Amanda Balionis couldn’t resist the charm, liking a post about the heartwarming moment on Instagram. It’s moments like these that remind us that family is the real prize, no matter how many tournaments you win. McIlroy’s joy was palpable, and it’s clear that Poppy’s thoughtful gift will be a memory he’ll treasure forever. What are your thoughts on their bond? Let us know in the comment section below!