Rory McIlroy Talks Difficulties of ‘Trying to Find That Balance’ with Golf and Family as He Misses Daughter’s 1st Day of School

• Rory McIlroy revealed that he missed daughter Poppy’s first day of school while competing in the BMW Championship in St. Louis
• The golfer said he “would have loved to have been home for that, but I’m here” during his press conference
• “Not all my eggs are in the golf basket,” McIlroy said as he revealed he’s “trying to find that balance” and “trying to be home enough”

Rory McIlroy is opening up about his work-life balance after missing daughter Poppy’s first day of school.

As McIlroy, 37, competes in the BMW Championship in St. Louis, the six-time major champion told reporters, “It is Poppy’s first day of school today,” on Wednesday, Aug. 19.

“I would have loved to have been home for that, but I’m here, so it’s just stuff like that, things I didn’t have 10 years ago that I have these days. I am in a different spot in my life,” McIlroy said, adding he’s “trying to find that balance and then trying to be home enough” with Poppy, 5, whom he shares with wife Erica Stoll.

McIlroy added, “As the years go on, you try to, you know, life happens and things that you didn’t have in your mid-20s you have in your mid-30s that you prioritize over golf, right. Prioritize things with your family or things that you don’t want to miss. That’s the stage of life where I’m at. Where, you know, not all my eggs are in the golf basket.”

The Northern Irishman shared there are “other things that I want to do” and “other things I feel like I have to do.” “It’s a balance,” he said. “Some years I’ll maybe play more, some years I’ll maybe play where it’s a little bit lighter. But it’s just that balance of making sure that you play enough to stay sharp, but then also I guess having balance in your life that you feel like you’re not missing out on other things that you want to do.”

Even so, McIlroy confirmed he’ll be competing over the next six weeks. “I am playing five of the next six weeks, so over the course of a calendar year, I still play more than most of the top guys because I play on both tours,” McIlroy said.

In April, McIlroy revealed he had been taking day trips up from Florida to Augusta National in Georgia ahead of the Masters. “I did a couple days where I dropped Poppy to school, flew up here, played, landed back home and had dinner with her or had dinner with Erica and Poppy,” he said.

Follow your favorite athletes on and off the field with PEOPLE’s free sports newsletter — sign up now!

Poppy is a regular at her dad’s golf tournaments, often stealing the show and earning mentions in his press conferences. After McIlroy won the 2026 Masters, he revealed, “This has definitely turned into Poppy’s favorite week of the year. I don’t know if it’s because of the Par 3 tournament or it’s all you can eat ice cream in the player services building.” 

Poppy’s adorable reaction to her dad’s comments went viral.

Read the original article on People