Mencap Northern Ireland has issued a statement clarifying that Rory McIlroy did not donate his 2025 Masters winnings to their charity, despite speculative reports claiming otherwise.
The charity addressed rumours that had circulated following McIlroy's historic victory at Augusta National on Sunday.
The Northern Irish golfer secured a career Grand Slam after defeating Justin Rose in a tense play-off, but reports about his subsequent charitable donations were inaccurate.
Mencap NI moved quickly to correct the record while still acknowledging McIlroy's previous support.
Mencap Northern Ireland has issued a statement clarifying that Rory McIlroy did not donate his 2025 Masters winnings to their charity, despite speculative reports claiming otherwise
REUTERS
Grainne Close, Director of Mencap Northern Ireland, issued a statement that said: "Rory Mcilroy has been a tremendous supporter of Mencap, supporting the build of our children's centre in Belfast a few years ago.
"However, we would like to clarify that reports stating he donated winnings from a recent tournament to Mencap are not accurate."
Close added: "We remain deeply grateful for his generosity and commitment to our cause and would like to congratulate him on his recent wins."
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In response to recent reports that Rory McIlroy donated his latest tournament winnings to Mencap, Grainne Close, Director of Mencap Northern Ireland, shared this statement. pic.twitter.com/oVAp6OlkjM
— Mencap NI (@Mencap_NI) April 16, 2025
McIlroy's victory on Sunday marked a defining moment in his illustrious career, as he finally completed golf's Grand Slam at the age of 35.
The nail-biting final day at Augusta saw him overcome Rose in a play-off to secure the coveted green jacket.
With this win, McIlroy joined the elite company of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as one of the few golfers to have won all four major championships.
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The Masters title had long eluded the Northern Irishman, making Sunday's triumph particularly significant in golfing history.
The victory also came with a substantial financial reward, with McIlroy taking home prize money totalling $4.1million (£3.1million).
Following his win, speculative reports began circulating claiming that McIlroy had donated his entire Masters winnings to Mencap Northern Ireland.
The charity supports people with learning disabilities throughout Northern Ireland.
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These reports gained traction online but were subsequently revealed to be inaccurate.
McIlroy has previously supported Mencap through his own charitable organisation, the Rory Foundation.
While the recent donation reports were wide of the mark, McIlroy's connection with Mencap Northern Ireland is well-established through his previous charitable work.
Rory McIlroy survived a strong challenge from Justin Rose to win the Masters on Sunday
REUTERS
His Rory Foundation has been instrumental in supporting the charity's mission to help those with learning disabilities.
A notable contribution came through his support for the construction of Mencap's children's centre in Belfast.
McIlroy is currently keeping a low profile after his Masters triumph, with the 35-year-old spending time celebrating with his loved ones - including wife Erica Stoll and their four-year-old daughter, Poppy.
