Less than 24 hours after it appeared to be on life support, revived his bid to win and complete the career grand slam. McIlroy shrugged off the crushing disappointment of two late double bogeys in the space of three holes in his opening 72 to card an which drew a standing ovation from the patrons around the 18th green at Augusta National.

The thrilling effort lifted McIlroy to six under par and a shot behind the man who denied him a fifth major title in last year's US Open, with Justin Rose setting the halfway target on eight under following a 71. Whether he finally wins the tournament or not, McIlroy is set to be handsomely rewarded for his efforts at Augusta. Here, we delve into some of the properties and ventures in which McIlroy has invested his winnings and endorsements, including a £17million mansion in Florida, his former property in Northern Ireland, plus rumours of a new build back in the UK.

While he was honing his skills to win his first two major titles - the US Open in 2011 and the PGA Championship in 2012 - McIlroy resided in a £2m property in Northern Ireland that he considered his dream home. The 14-acre grounds were equipped with his private driving range and green.

Eventually, McIlroy decided it was time to part ways with this home due to his constant travelling for golf, reluctantly selling it to TV presenter Gary McCausland for an undisclosed sum before investing in his current main home in Florida.

Alongside his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy, four, McIlroy resides in his £17m mansion in Jupiter. Situated in the Bear's Club golf community, the property boasts nine bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, an infinity pool, games room and home theatre.

It also contains a six-car garage with a golf course next door, providing McIlroy with the perfect opportunity to hone his craft. The mansion, built in 2002, was acquired by McIlroy in 2012. However, this stunning residence is not McIlroy's only property. He reportedly owns another mansion in La Quinta, California, a flat in New York and a villa in the UAE.

JJ Spaun, defeated by McIlroy in a play-off at the Players Championship, was full of praise for the Northern Irishman after their head-to-head. Speaking on the Fore Play podcast, Spaun disclosed their post-tournament chat, revealing McIlroy's plans to build a home in England.

"He's super cool. We were talking about the UK. I know he's Northern Irish, but I asked him if he ever hangs out in London," said Spaun. "Because my wife has got a really good friend that lives out there and loves going there.

"I asked him about that, and he said, 'Oh yeah, I'm building a house out there'. He kept it really friendly and light, and then we chatted a lot until the back nine, and that was it." McIlroy's representatives were approached for comment.

This revelation came after McIlroy revealed his wife, Stoll, would like to spend more time in England. He said in 's Full Swing series: "If it was up to her, she wouldn't move to England straightaway, but she definitely wants to spend more time there."

The conversation continued as McIlroy discussed with German golfer Martin Kaymer how his partner often dislikes the intense Floridian temperatures.

"I saw her at a Starbucks once, and she said, 'I really don't like the sun'," Kaymer revealed. "I said, 'your state's called the Sunshine State, right?'"