Back in 2014, the same year McIlroy clinched both the PGA Championship and Open Championship titles, he met then-actress Markle, who was famed for her role in the American TV show Suits. Revealed in a dramatic book by author Tom Bower, named 'Revenge: The Meghan and Harry Story', the would-be Royal encountered McIlroy on a memorable night out in New York City as she was staying in the city with a friend.

Partaking in this trend meant being doused in icy water to benefit ALS research and in turn, nominating friends to do the same. Markle agreed to participate under one condition: that McIlroy would be the one to drench her. He willingly complied, resulting in a video shared on social media at the time.

It seems that the post-challenge drinks affected McIlroy's golfing abilities; the next day, he played in a tournament, far from matching his eventual Masters performance over a decade later.

Bower added: "The following morning, McIlroy arrived at the Ringwood golf course to play in a new competition. Worse for wear after a hectic night, he fell back to 101st place. He admitted his game was off.

"It's my favorite city in the world," McIlroy said. "There's a great buzz and great atmosphere in New York. "I try to get here as much as I can." Traffic be damned may as well be his motto, for the world's No. 1 player isn't about to give up his nights in Gotham. He's staying there this week despite a 35-minute drive to Ridgewood Country Club, host of The Barclays, the first of leg of the FedExCup Playoffs where he begins as the point leader.

Cheating on Chef Cory in Dublin October 2014

One of the Irish papers got wind of the date and said they were “looking very cozy” during the meal, which annoyed Meghan’s live-in boyfriend at the time, Canadian chef Cory Vitiello, who understandably was “annoyed” by the report. But Meghan made it clear that she and the golfer were only friends.

Lies: ‘He sent me a text and I just said, “I’m in New York and I’m going back to Toronto and I’ll do it then,” and it happened so seamlessly and he was like, “I’m in New York right now, let’s do it together.”’

The Barclays 2014: Rory McIlroy eyes a low number for final round Aug. 23, 2014 PARAMUS, N.J. – At his core Rory McIlroy has felt the Big Apple was his kind of town from the first time he felt its energy beating inside him. The vast subway system and the street aesthetic of corner vendors, waves of humanity on foot and the bumper-to-bumper yellow cabs. The skyscrapers and bridges and bright lights. The 24/7 clamor, the abundant cultures and accompanying restaurants, the unlimited entertainment choices.

"It's my favorite city in the world," McIlroy said. "There's a great buzz and great atmosphere in New York. "I try to get here as much as I can."

He's staying there this week despite a 35-minute drive to Ridgewood Country Club, host of The Barclays, the first of leg of the FedExCup Playoffs where he begins as the point leader. Traffic be damned may as well be his motto, for the world's No. 1 player isn't about to give up his nights in Gotham. And these days, just as the city exerts a significant impact on commerce, finance, media, art, fashion and entertainment around the world, McIlroy, at just 25, is having a major influence on the world of golf.

The world's No. 1 has won four of his last eight starts, a run that started with the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's flagship event. Then he planted his flag in successive starts at the British Open, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, where he upped his major take to four. "His level of play this last month has been exceptional," said Phil Mickelson, who finished runner-up to McIlroy in the PGA Championship. "Now, from what I've seen over the years with Tiger, from 2000, if you want to compare it to that, well, he's got a ways to go.

And these days, just as the city exerts a significant impact on commerce, finance, media, art, fashion and entertainment around the world, McIlroy, at just 25, is having a major influence on the world of golf.

The world's No. 1 has won four of his last eight starts, a run that started with the BMW PGA Championship, the European Tour's flagship event. Then he planted his flag in successive starts at the British Open, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship, where he upped his major take to four.

"His level of play this last month has been exceptional," said Phil Mickelson, who finished runner-up to McIlroy in the PGA Championship. "Now, from what I've seen over the years with Tiger, from 2000, if you want to compare it to that, well, he's got a ways to go.

Rory McIlroys bid for a fourth tournament win in a row got off to a rather rocky start as he carded an opening round of 74 at The Barclays in New Jersey.

I've definitely noticed things have went up a notch since last time I was here," McIlroy said of being recognized in the city. "It's a good thing. For what I've done over the past few weeks this summer, it would be a bad thing if people didn't recognize or notice you. It's been great. I've definitely noticed a difference but it's something I'll have to get used to."

He brought Royal Liverpool Golf Club, a place which counts Walter Hagen and Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods as its champions, to its knees. He brought Firestone Country Club, a place which has a roster of winners like Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player and Tom Watson and Lee Trevino and Phil Mickelson and oh yeah, Tiger Woods, to its knees. He then brought Valhalla Golf Club, a place where Hale Irwin and Tom Watson and yes, Tiger Woods won, to its knees.

So Rory McIlroy arrived at Ridgewood Country Club this week on a historic three-event stretch where he won every time he teed it up, did so at two major championships and seized the game by the jugular and refused to let go. Why would The Barclays — the first leg of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup Playoffs — be any different than the British Open, the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational or the PGA Championship?Turns out, it's the only place in the last month to land a right-cross to the jaw of golf's new titan. And after carding an opening-round score of 3-over, 74, McIlroy emerged from Ridgewood looking for the corner bucket and a way to prevent the tournament from slipping away.

"There is such a premium on putting your ball in the fairway and I didn't really do that for the most part today," McIlroy said afterward. "Obviously, the thick, juicy rough around the greens makes it difficult as well. So yeah, it's a real (concern). It doesn't seem it and I missed (the fairway) wide enough at times where the rough was actually okay with the spectators and everything. But if you miss it just two or three yards off the fairway, it is really juicy and it's tough."McIlroy said he wasn't fatigued, but rather couldn't fit in as much practice time as usual. Or as much as his competitors got. And why, as 56 of the 122 players shot a score under par, McIlroy spent much of the day hovering around dead-last."I want to play well and I want to give myself chances to win tournaments," McIlroy said. "I'll need to get off to a good start tomorrow to try and do that. But there is chances out there. There is chances on this golf course to make birdies. I feel like I can do that."