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Golfer Rory McIlroy to marry Erica Stoll within weeks

Rory McIlroy and fiancé Erica Stoll are expected to tie the knot in the coming weeks. Picture by Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Rory McIlroy and fiancé Erica Stoll are expected to tie the knot in the coming weeks. Picture by Peter Byrne/PA Wire Rory McIlroy and fiancé Erica Stoll are expected to tie the knot in the coming weeks. Picture by Peter Byrne/PA Wire

RORY McIlroy is set to tie the knot in the coming weeks with speculation that Ashford Castle in Co Mayo could be the likely location for the celebrations.

The Co Down golfer has revealed that by the time he returns to his next golf tournament, the Players Championship on May 9, he will be a "married man".

The world number two said he was looking forward to "start a new chapter in my life" when he weds girlfriend Erica Stoll.

The 27-year-old, who has previously remained tight-lipped about his wedding plans, spoke about his forthcoming nuptials following his seventh placed finish at the Masters in Augusta over the weekend.

The Holywood sports star will now focus on tying the knot with Ms Stoll, admitting he would had dreamed of standing at the ceremony in one of the most famous jackets.

"I am excited. It's a great time in my life and it would have been nice to walk down the aisle in the green jacket," he said.

"It's a great time in our lives and it's all about that over the next couple of weeks and I'll come back at the Players refreshed and a married man and start a new chapter in my life."

Asked if the couple were going on a honeymoon following their wedding, McIlroy said they would go "straight in" to a break away together following the wedding.

"I wanted to do it right," he said.

"I didn't want to wait until the end of the season. Straight after we're going to go on honeymoon and spend 10 days in the middle of nowhere and get away from it all."

It's not the first time that the golfer has planned to walk down the aisle. He infamously called off his engagement to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki in May 2014 just days after wedding invitations were sent out.

McIlroy began dating Ms Stoll after they met when she was working for the PGA of America.

He popped the question in Paris in December 2015 presenting her with an engagement ring worth an estimated £500,000 with reports that the wedding nuptials will be celebrated at Ashford Castle, one of Ireland's most exclusive wedding venues.

The couple have reportedly spent New Year’s Eve at the five-star hotel for the past two years and McIlroy has also previously revealed how much his wife-to be enjoys spending time in Ireland.

"Erica loves Ireland," he said.

"It’s very similar to the place where she grew up, in Rochester, upstate New York, where it’s also very green and leafy."