Rory McIlroy’s agony: “The wedding is off. I’m not ready for marriage.”

Rory McIlroy fought back tears today after he pulled the plug on his wedding to Caroline Wozniacki.

The 25-year-old admitted he realised he was not ready for marriage just days after sending wedding invites out.

In a shock statement McIlroy said: “The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails.”

And although he spoke fondly of Caroline, it was clear there was no way back for sport’s golden couple – just two months before their wedding was due to take place.

Rory said: “I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more.”

The news came just days after the couple had sent out ‘Save the date’ notices to pals for their big day.

And at a press conference for the BMW PGA, Rory admitted he was finding the split tough.

But he insisted he had not considered pulling out of the biggest tournament on the European Tour.

He said: “I am not going to lie – it is going to be difficult.

“I did not consider pulling out. I made the commitment to play. It is a difficult time for Caroline and myself.

“I think the statement said it all. It was mutual and amicable and we both thought it was the best for us.

“It is time to move on. I am just trying to get my head around golf today. I have been playing well. I want to dive into it and keep busy.”

The split came as a shock to pals with one source telling the Irish Mirror: “He was supposed to be bringing Caroline to [friend] Harry Diamond’s wedding to Katie Larmour this summer.

“So people here are certainly a bit surprised. Then again he was always a bit on and off with Holly Sweeney.

“And sure there were rumours of him and Caroline being on and off once or twice, so maybe we shouldn’t be that shocked after all.”

Caroline kept a dignified silence last night as she prepares for the French Open which begins on Sunday.

The superstar couple had dinner together just three days ago at Nobu in Monte Carlo.

And only last month Wozniacki accompanied her man around the course at Augusta as his caddy for the pre-Masters Par 3 tournament.

But a few days ago Rory hit back on Twitter at reports the couple were due to get married in August, fuelling speculation that all was not well. Previously, 23-year-old Caroline said they “were working on it” when quizzed about a date for the big day.

Rory and Caroline got together after he ditched his teenage sweetheart Holly Sweeney following six years together.

The student and model was heartbroken when Rory started seeing Caroline shortly after their split.

In an interview with the Irish Mirror at the time, Holly said Rory had confessed to fancying Caroline.

She said: “I always suspected he had a thing for her. He’s always been a big fan of tennis.

“When he was watching the women’s games he always said he fancied her but I didn’t take it that seriously – little did I know.

“It was Rory that ran away with Caroline – not the other way around – so I guess I blame Rory, or both of them if I’m totally honest.

“I have to put the blame on him for what has happened but obviously I’m not her biggest fan ever.

“Obviously we’d separated before, but that wasn’t for any other reason than that we thought we were too young to be in such a serious relationship. This was a different thing.”

Holly said she was hurt as she saw their relationship develop.

She said: “I saw a tweet from Caroline saying she met Rory and he was a great guy and my heart sank.

“I thought something was up because I didn’t really hear from him during the trip to that boxing match in Germany that she was at.

“Then he got home, went straight to see the dogs instead of me, dodged me when he came through the door and then sat me down and told me that he met with her in Germany and that he wanted to see how it would go with her.”

As soon as their relationship began, Rory and Caroline fell headlong into love and were seen at many sporting events together.

They supported each other through the good times and the bad but last year rumours were rife that the relationship was in trouble.

Rory’s performance on the course dipped and insiders reported the couple were rowing over a photo of Rory Caroline had posted on the internet. But just over a month later all was rosy again as Caroline showed off a her engagement ring, thought to have cost six figures.

She told how Rory had proposed in the romantic setting of Sydney and she happily accepted.

The Danish Beauty tweeted at the turn of the New Year: “Happy New Year everyone! Rory and I started 2014 with a bang! … I said YES!!!!”

The Co Down golfer also had his say a few minutes later, tweeting that he had scored his “first victory” of the year.

He wrote: “Happy New Year everyone! I have a feeling it’s going to be a great year!! My first victory of 2014”.

McIlroy’s golf this year has yet to take off, with the Northern Irishman in poor form at the Masters in Augusta in the US. A double-Major winner he was part of the European team which won the Ryder Cup in 2010 and 2012.

He has been rated as one of the most marketable sportsmen in the world and, in 2013, signed a €300million sponsorship deal with Nike.

Caroline became the world’s No 1 women’s tennis player in late 2010.

But as their love grew, their sporting prowess dropped, seeing them both slide down the rankings.

Former Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal said: “It is tough for golfers to have relationships. We spend a lot of time away from home and it is hard to keep a relationship going.

“There are some good things about golf but also some not so good things. I wish Caroline and Rory the best. Their time will come. They are very young.”

Hours later the tearful golfer told a press conference: “Obviously it is a difficult time for Caroline and myself. It is time to move on. It is all I want to say.”

The sporting golden couple were due to marry later this year after Rory proposed in Sydney.