Rory McIlroy explained that “sometimes life can get a lot” in a candid chat with comedian Patrick Kielty during their round of golf together.

The two Northern Irish men joined forces in support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month as McIlroy opened up on a difficult year in terms of his relationship with wife Erica Stoll, and disappointment in sport following his US Open near-miss.

McIlroy was back on home soil as he finished runner-up at the Irish Open, a solid return after being pipped to glory at Pinehurst earlier in the year by Bryson DeChambeau.

McIlroy bogeyed two of the final three holes and watched on from the clubhouse as he suffered defeat from the jaws of victory, just a few days on from U-turning on a divorce with his wife.

In the buildup to the US PGA Championship, McIlroy filed a divorce petition in a Florida court. But that was later voluntarily dismissed at the behest of the parties involved, with McIlroy and Stoll reconciling.

"Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning," McIlroy said at the time.

McIlroy, who has a daughter, Poppy, with Stoll, took a break from golf and cited the need to step away from the sport. He has since returned with a positive attitude on the course, but explained on the Late Late Show that he has been dealing with plenty behind the scenes in 2024.

“There’s been a lot going on this year,” McIlroy admitted. “From golf-wise and then obviously personal-wise as well. I think sometimes life can get a lot and it can get too much, I had to take a little bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else.

“I think, going back to the talk about the merger with LIV (Golf) and all that, golf and the business of golf has become all-consuming for me for the last couple of years. And I needed to take a little bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me, friends, family, enjoying myself.”

McIlroy had been hoping to taste his first victory on home soil at the Irish Open, with victory within his grasp after birdying the opening two holes on Sunday to lead by four.

But after missing short birdie putts at the eighth and ninth, followed by bogeys on 15 and 17, Rasmus Hojgaard was able to snatch the title away thanks to two back-nine chip-ins.

But for McIlroy, he knows that there is more to life than golf and his break from the sport has kept the 35-year-old in a strong frame of mind heading into the PGA Championship.