The quiet, leafy streets of Surrey are abuzz with anticipation as golf icon Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll prepare to settle into their lavish new home on the exclusive Wentworth Estate, a star-studded enclave that’s as much a playground for the rich and famous as it is a rumored haunt for restless spirits. Set to move in after the US Open in June 2025, the couple’s arrival is already stirring excitement—and a few eerie whispers—among their new neighbors. But with tales of ghostly presences and abandoned “ghost properties” lingering over this millionaires’ row, the question remains: will McIlroy’s green jacket be enough to ward off the supernatural?
Nestled near the prestigious Wentworth Golf Club, where membership costs a cool £200,000, the estate is a magnet for A-listers, billionaires, and sports legends. McIlroy, fresh off his Masters triumph that completed his career Grand Slam, has reportedly poured up to £9 million into crafting a sprawling family mansion, a project that continued even through the couple’s brief divorce scare in 2024. The Northern Irish star’s decision to relocate from the Florida heat—where Stoll has long expressed her distaste for the sunshine—signals a new chapter, with the cooler UK climate and proximity to London proving irresistible. Yet, the move comes with an unexpected twist: a community steeped in both glamour and ghostly lore.
Locals have long whispered about the estate’s haunted reputation. Empty mansions, dubbed “ghost properties,” dot the landscape, their boarded-up windows and silent halls a stark contrast to the opulent lifestyles of their absentee owners. One neighbor, recalling the late Sir Bruce Forsyth’s former home, told tales of neglect after its £5.7 million sale in 2020, hinting at a eerie stillness that unsettles the area. Another resident, a musician, famously recounted a chilling night when his house plunged into darkness, leaving him convinced of a spectral presence. With McIlroy’s family—including their young daughter Poppy—set to join this eclectic mix, the golf icon might soon find himself swapping birdies for ghost stories.
The Wentworth Estate’s resident roster reads like a who’s who of fame: former Chelsea striker Andriy Shevchenko, cricketing great Kevin Pietersen, and fitness guru Joe Wicks are just a few names sharing the manicured greens. This star-studded community offers McIlroy a chance to network with the elite while perfecting his swing on one of the world’s finest courses. However, the juxtaposition of luxury and the uncanny has sparked curiosity. Are the ghost stories mere folklore, born from the isolation of unoccupied homes, or is there truth to the spectral claims that have locals locking their doors at dusk?
For McIlroy and Stoll, the move represents more than a change of scenery—it’s a reconciliation and a reset. After navigating marital turbulence, the couple’s choice to build this home together suggests a commitment to a “new beginning,” as McIlroy put it last year. Yet, as they unpack in their Surrey sanctuary, they might need more than a state-of-the-art entertainment room and heated pool to settle in. Will the ghosts of Wentworth welcome the golfing legend, or will they add a spooky chapter to his already dramatic life story? As the moving vans roll in this June, one thing is certain: McIlroy’s new neighbors—living or otherwise—are ready to watch this tale unfold.
