Rory McIlroy spotted in Spain ahead of huge sporting event

Rory McIlroy shunned the media before his swift exit from the PGA Championship – but he did stop in the car park to speak to his Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm.

Turns out McIlroy would soon be heading on his private jet from Charlotte to Rahm’s home of the Basque Country in Spain for a rather important sporting event.

McIlroy’s beloved Manchester United are taking on Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao on Wednesday, and the Masters champion has been spotted smiling with rival fans ahead of the Europa League final clash.

One Spurs season ticket holder ‘Ricky Rix’ wrote: “Good start to the morning in Bilbao,  staying in the same hotel as Rory McIlroy.” 

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It’s understood that McIlroy made a quick pitstop back home in Northern Ireland before checking into his hotel ahead of the All-English final at the Estadio de San Mamés.

McIlroy has made the trip with his caddie Harry Diamond and also took pictures with TNT broadcast team Rio Ferdinand, Paul Scholes and Darren Fletcher.

The lifelong United fan, was invited to Old Trafford by manager Ruben Amorim after his career grand slam-clinching Masters win last month.

“It is really important to us in this moment,” Amorim said. “You achieved something that a lot of people thought would be impossible and we want that feeling in our stadium.

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“So, I hope to see you soon at Old Trafford and to meet you.”

It is unclear when McIlroy will parade his Green Jacket around the Theatre of Dreams, just like he did after winning The Open at Hoylake in 2014.

Sunday’s final home game of the season at Aston Villa may come too soon, as McIlroy will likely be heading back Stateside to prepare for the following week’s Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

When asked if he will indeed make a trip to Old Trafford in his winners’ press conference at Augusta National, McIlroy laughed: “If it can inspire some better play, absolutely.”

Ahead of a season-defining game, McIlroy will hope he can be the lucky charm in Bilbao tonight.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.