Before her life as the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle's friendship with golfing superstar Rory McIlroy became the subject of intense public speculation. As McIlroy stands poised to potentially win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award tonight, a look back at their connection in the summer of 2014 reveals a chapter of whispered romance and firm denials.
The Ice Bucket Challenge That Sparked Speculation
It all began eleven years ago with a charitable act. Rory McIlroy, fresh from winning his 27th PGA title, nominated actress Meghan Markle to complete the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Markle agreed, but on one condition: McIlroy had to come to her friend's New York City apartment and pour the ice-cold water over her head himself.
The resulting video, uploaded to Markle's Vimeo account, showed the newly single golfer (having recently split from tennis star Caroline Wozniacki) drenching the then-33-year-old Suits star. This seemingly innocent fundraiser quickly fanned flames of speculation about a potential romance between the pair.
A Budding Friendship Under Scrutiny
According to royal author Tom Bower's book Revenge, the friendship blossomed quickly after the challenge. That same evening, the pair were spotted enjoying a drink at Manhattan's Fitzpatrick Hotel by its owner, John Fitzpatrick. A self-professed fan of Suits, the Irish hotelier then invited them to a group dinner at the upscale Italian restaurant Cipriani.
The following day, McIlroy played poorly in a tournament 30 miles away in Ringwood, later confessing he "wasn't quite on my game" and was "busy enjoying myself." Bower claimed the golfer, feeling "worse for wear after a hectic night," almost immediately drove back to New York to see Meghan.
Markle publicly praised McIlroy on her now-defunct lifestyle blog, The Tig, calling him the "foremost golfer in the world" and a "force." She described him as "the real deal" and highlighted his character, noting his appreciation for "a simple smile" and his love for his parents.
Dublin Dinner and Denials
Rumours reached a crescendo two months later when both were in Dublin for the One Young World summit, where Markle was a panellist. They were spotted dining together at a high-end restaurant, with onlookers describing Markle as looking "smitten" and gazing "intensely" at the then-25-year-old golfer.
However, there was a complication: Meghan had reportedly flown to Dublin with her then-boyfriend, celebrity chef Cory Vitiello. Bower alleges that Vitiello, whom Markle dated for two years prior to meeting Prince Harry, angrily confronted her on two occasions, asking if she was having an affair with McIlroy. Each time, Markle emphatically denied any betrayal, insisting they were "just friends," and Vitiello believed her.
An Irish reporter later wrote that Meghan and Vitiello were "madly in love" and "sewn at the hip" in Ireland, a report that Bower says was met with "relief" by Markle. "The golfer was not her future," Bower concluded.
Both have since moved on to high-profile marriages. Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, while McIlroy married Erica Stoll in 2017. Tonight, the focus is squarely on McIlroy's sporting achievements. He is tipped to become the first golfer ever to win the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, following a historic year where he completed the career Grand Slam and helped secure Europe's Ryder Cup victory.
