Rory McIlroy adds to Manchester United speculation after Masters triumph

Rory McIlroy may be swapping fairways for football stands tonight, amid speculation that the newly crowned Masters champion will be at Manchester United's crunch Europa League quarter-final.

The Red Devils take on French side Lyon in the second leg after a 2-2 draw in France last week, and speculation has grown further after the golfer's private jet touched down at Farnborough Airport early yesterday. Plane trackers followed its route from Palm Beach, Florida, close to where McIlroy lives, igniting rumours that one of the club’s most famous fans is set for a matchday return.

McIlroy's arrival comes with perfect timing, as he's not scheduled to tee it up again until next week alongside Shane Lowry, the defending champions of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The Northern Irishman, a lifelong Manchester United supporter, won the Masters at Augusta National, completing the coveted career grand slam and slipping on the iconic Green Jacket.

Speaking after his win, the newest member of golf's most exclusive club joked that he might bring the jacket to Old Trafford “if it can inspire some better play.”

United’s new head coach, Ruben Amorim, appears to be all in on the idea.

In a video message posted by the club, the head coach said: “Hi Rory. Congratulations for The Masters and I want to invite you to Old Trafford to show your trophy. It is really important to us in this moment.

"You achieved something that a lot of people thought would be impossible, and we want that feeling in our stadium. So, I hope to see you soon at Old Trafford and to meet you.”

The Portuguese manager, who’s attempting to usher in a new era at United, believes McIlroy's champion mentality could be just the jolt of inspiration the squad needs.

McIlroy's private jet, a 2022 Gulfstream G650 registered under the US flag, took off from Palm Beach International Airport shortly after 8pm local time on Tuesday, crossing the Atlantic before landing at Farnborough Airport in Surrey at 08:23am on Wednesday morning. As yet there is no official word from McIlroy’s camp.

The Northern Irish golfer's passion for Manchester United is no secret. He’s often been seen at games and maintains close ties with club legends. But his fandom hasn’t always been glamorous.

McIlroy recently recalled being denied an autograph by United captain Roy Keane as a 12-year-old, a snub he says left a mark. Keane’s snub clearly didn’t dull McIlroy’s loyalty, though.

Speculation McIlroy may be moving back to the UK following his Masters success has been described as “premature” by golf insiders, the Mirror can reveal. Since winning the green jacket, rumours has surfaced that the major winner may be returning to Britain. Last month, rival golfer JJ Spaun revealed McIlory, 35, had told him he was building a home in the UK, indicating the Cotswolds area.

Speaking on the Fore Play podcast, the American said: ”He's super cool. “We were talking about the UK. I know he's Northern Irish, but I asked him if he ever hangs out in London. My wife has got a really good friend who lives out there and loves going there, so over the last couple of years, we go on this little vacation in December to the Cotswolds. I asked him about that, and he said, 'Oh yeah, I'm building a house out there.’"

But sources have told the Mirror it would not be happening “any time soon”.

An insider who lives close to the McIlroys in Florida told the Mirror: “It is way too premature to think Rory and Erica are moving to the UK. Their daughter Poppy is settled, and Rory is committed to the PGA tour in the States. He has no plans to join the European one. You may see him and Erica more in the UK, but for now, as much as he loves Britain, his future is still in Florida. A move back to the UK will not be happening any time soon."

The McIlroys will remain based at his sprawling £16.6 million mansion in Jupiter - a palatial 13,000-square-foot estate nestled in the ultra-exclusive Bear’s Club. The private golf enclave founded by Jack Nicklaus in 1999 is home to just a handful of elite residents, mostly top-tier golfers and celebrities, and boasts world-class amenities and privacy.