Rory McIlroy reportedly felt Caroline Wozniacki was hurting his golf game

Rory McIlroy has been criticized over the past year or so for not spending enough time working on his golf game. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman has fallen off a bit since he burst onto the scene by winning the US Open in 2011 and the PGA Championship the next year.

Was Caroline Wozniacki part of the problem?

McIlroy announced on Wednesday that he has called off his engagement with Wozniacki just days after their wedding invitations were sent out. According to the New York Post’s Page Six, Rory felt that his personal life was affecting his golf game.

“Rory’s game hasn’t been as consistently good in the time he’s been with Caroline,” a source reportedly said. “He was a young guy in love and was flying around the world to see her play in tournaments or meet up with her. He was missing practice rounds. It was a distraction.”

Back in July, golf legend Nick Faldo accused McIlroy of not spending enough time on the course and worrying too much about his personal life. McIlroy later fired back and reminded his critics how difficult the game of golf can be. Gary Player made similar remarks when he said McIlroy needs to find the right woman.

Perhaps Wozniacki was losing focus, too.

“When you have two players focused on being No. 1, it’s a huge commitment to see each other, physically and emotionally,” the Post’s source added. “As tough as the decision to end the relationship might have been, it is wise to do it now rather than after they were married.”

I still think the love life excuse was overplayed, but you never know. We’ll see how McIlroy plays the rest of the way in 2014.

H/T SI Hot Clicks