Rory McIlroy's ex-love Holly Sweeney escapes to Dubai as he is linked to Caroline Wozniacki

By Claire McNeilly – 20 July 2011

There's nothing like sun, sea and, of course, shopping to put a smile back on a girl's face.

And Holly Sweeney was certainly making the most of all three yesterday, as she soaked up the rays in scorching Dubai.

If her recent shock split from golf superstar and childhood sweetheart Rory McIlroy was playing on her mind, the 20-year-old student was certainly hiding it well.

Blonde belle Holly even posted a picture of her exotic location - featuring her newly-tanned legs - on Twitter. And beneath it she tweeted, in typical Ulster style, 'You couldn't be bad to it!'

The couple's separation was revealed just after newly-crowned US Open champion Rory had competed in the Open in Sandwich.

Immediately, the 22-year-old was linked with Danish tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki, whom he was spotted dining out with following a disappointing display at the Major tournament.

The news shocked Rory's legions of fans, coming as it did less than 24 hours after national BBC had broadcast a TV documentary which showed the couple apparently very much in love.

During the programme, first shown a week after the US Open victory, Rory declared his love for Holly and admitted that, having attempted to break up with her earlier this year, he had to beg to get her back.

A statement released by Rory's management team said the couple had split just before the Open started last Thursday.

Holly's absence from the tournament had earlier been put down her supposedly being 'bad luck' for Rory's chances.

But following the split, many fans of the 'Celtic Tiger' are wondering if, following his poor showing on the Sandwich links, he was thinking too much about 'birdies' off the course rather than on it.

Similarly, Danish beauty Caroline had a disappointing Wimbledon last month, going out in the fourth round with critics suggesting she didn't warrant that lofty world No.1 ranking.

Wozniacki may have caught McIlroy's eye while he was a guest at SW19, but it is claimed they first met a few days later at world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko's win over David Haye in Hamburg on July 2.

The pair then began exchanging tweets, and McIlroy took to the social networking site to congratulate Caroline on her 21st birthday last week, joking: "You're getting old".

"At least now you will be able to buy me a drink in the US," she replied. "Not only in Hamburg".

Incidentally, Rory's good friend, compatriot and fellow Major-winning golfer Graeme McDowell was already well acquainted with Miss Wozniacki before she met up with 'Wee Mac.'

Graeme - who introduced newly crowned Open champion Darren Clarke to his now fiancee Alison Campbell - first met Caroline at the Champions League final at Wembley on Saturday, May 28.

Afterwards, Caroline tweeted him to say: "It was really nice to meet you, will be following you from now on," and added: "Was surprised how much both of you knew about me, he he."

G-Mac had gone to the game with his father and brother - Rory was also at the match, having played in the PGA Championship earlier in the day. It is unclear whether the two golfers met up at the game or afterwards.

At present, McIlroy is, not surprisingly, the world's most Googled 'Rory'. Caroline, however, is also the most Googled Caroline - ahead of Caroline Castigliano, the renowned wedding designer.

With him being now the most talked about golfer on the planet and her ranked as the world's top tennis player, that scenario is bound to continue.

PROFILE

Caroline Wozniacki, from Denmark, is currently the No1 female tennis player in the world. The 21-year-old is the first Danish player to hold the top ranking position, although she has yet to win a women's Grand Slam title. Her father played professional football for Poland and Denmark, and her mother played volleyball for the Polish national team. Wozniacki has been romantically linked with Rory McIlroy after the pair were recently seen socialising together in London. They initally met at Wladimir Klitschko's win over David Haye in Hamburg on July 2, to which McIlroy travelled by private jet.