Rory McIlroy and tennis girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki clearly squashed rumours they are no longer an item when Wozniacki walked the first round of the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
McIlroy failed to capitalise after birding three of his opening four holes on route to a one under par 71 in the defence of his last tournament victory.
Just two holes from the end of his round, Wozniacki looked visibly surprised when the Royal Air Force’s Red Arrows Aerobatics Team fly over the 17th and 18th holes trailing red, white and blue smoke as part of Dubai Air Show week celebrations.
Wozinacki revealed the duo have been in Dubai since arriving in the UAE last weekend.
The pair have played tennis together, and with Wozniacki posting a photo of McIlroy on a tennis course on her Twitter page.
But while Wozniacki declined to comment on her relationship with McIlroy she indicated she had joined McIlroy for a game of golf earlier this week on the Els Club course.
“Unfortunately, my golf is not getting any better,” she smiled.
It is the first time Wozniacki has been seen at a golf tournament since April’s Masters when she donned the traditional Augusta National white overalls and caddied for McIlroy in the Par 3 Contest.
Twelve months ago, Wozniacki reluctantly agreed to join McIlroy for photographs on the presentation green and moments after McIlroy captured both the DP World Tour Championship and Race to Dubai No. 1 crown.
Wozniacki is also in Dubai with her new coach, Swedish-born Thomas Hogstedt and former coach to Maria Sharpova.
Hogstedt had been with Sharapova for three years, ending a successful partnership in which the Russian rebounded from shoulder injury from shoulder surgery to capture the 2002 French Openand regain the World No. 1 ranking.
According to news reports from Wozniacki and Hogstedt, the goal of the new partnership is for the Dane to break through and win a Grand Slam tournament.
“I want to develop my game and will work harder than ever before,” said Wozniacki.
“And I know that when I put in the work, I am a player who can win a Grand Slam.”
Hogstedt will replace Wozniacki’s father, Piotr, as her primary coach, and her father commenting:
“Now I’ll just be dad with my mission to leave and let Carolina and her trainer to work,” he said.
Wozniacki indicated she will not travel to Australia next fortnight when McIlroy competes in the Emirates Australian Open.
“I am going to southern California with Rory when he plays in Tiger’s event the week after he plays in Sydney,” she said.
“It’s just too far to travel to Australia as I am playing in the Brisbane International and Sydney before the Australian Open so I didn’t to have to make two journeys to Australia in such a short space of time.”
