Caroline Wozniacki and Rory McIlroy dated for three years and were engaged to be married before calling things off in May. And by calling things off, we mean McIlroy dumped Caro over the phone.
But it turns out their breakup may have been for the best; ever since the two broke up, their athletic careers have taken off.
Woz and McIlroy first began dating around July 2011. They got engaged on New Year’s 2014 and broke up in May. Despite facing criticism that their relationship was negatively affecting them in their respective sports, they remained strong with their love for each other. But now we’re seeing definitive proof that they are much better without each other.
[Related: Rory McIlroy responds to criticism from Nick Faldo]
Prior to them dating, Wozniacki had reached the finals and semifinals of the US Open, the semis of the Australian, and the quarters at the French. A few months after they began dating, Woz made the semis of the US Open and quarters at the Australian in 2012 before falling apart. She never got past the fourth round of a grand slam while dating McIlroy (after the Australian in 2012). That span included two first-round and two second-round exits. She also lost in the first round of the French right after Rory broke up with her.
[Previously: Woz in 2012 said relationship wasn’t hurting them on field]
But once she got her head straight, Woz got right back on track.
She reached the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time since before she began dating Rory. She won her first title of the year right afterwards when she captured the Istanbul Cup. She reached the quarters of the Rogers Cup and semis of the Western & Southern Open in her next two tournaments. And then she reached the finals of the US Open for the second time in her career.
[Related: Rory McIlroy felt Caroline Wozniacki was hurting his golf game]
Likewise, McIlroy has kicked it into high gear since the two broke up.
McIlroy won two majors after the breakup and took home the title at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. He won the PGA Championship for the second time and the British Open for the first time. The win at the PGA Championship was extremely telling; it was his first win on either the PGA or European Tour in 18 months, and it came immediately after he called off the wedding.
Woz and McIlroy were very much in love and seemed to enjoy their time together, so nobody can say they regret the relationship. But what we’ve seen is definitive proof that they’re both better at their sport when they’re not together and able to focus more on training, practicing and their athletic careers.
