Ronnie O’Sullivan has offered a rare glimpse into his conversation with Rory McIlroy after the pair crossed paths in Dubai last week, revealing a mutual respect that stretches far beyond their respective sports.
McIlroy had travelled to the DP World Tour Championship chasing another title and, although beaten in a thrilling play-off by Matt Fitzpatrick, the four-time major winner still secured his seventh Race to Dubai crown.
O’Sullivan, who now spends much of his time in the Middle East, was among those watching from the galleries and seized the chance to speak with him.
The snooker great admitted he had long admired McIlroy from afar but left the Earth Course feeling even more invested in the golfer’s success.
“He was really lovely, honestly, he was such a nice guy,” O’Sullivan said.
“You watch him on TV and you want to see him do well but after meeting him, I found myself really rooting for him to do well.”
McIlroy’s time was limited, yet he still broke away from practice to engage with the snooker icon.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan has offered a rare glimpse into his conversation with Rory McIlroy after the pair crossed paths in Dubai last week, revealing a mutual respect that stretches far beyond their respective sports
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That gesture, O’Sullivan suggested, revealed a mindset shaped by serious ambition rather than celebrity comfort.
“Because he’s a big star and it was nice of him to take the time out from his practice session just to have a little chat,” he explained.
“He’s a serious guy. He’s not just there to make the numbers up. There’s a lot of pressure on him and he wants to do well. You can recognise that in him.”
Ronnie O’Sullivan described Rory McIlroy as a ‘serious’ guy following their meeting in the Middle East
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O’Sullivan spoke with several golfers during his visit, joking that players from both sports share the same emotional torment.
“All the players are great. I chatted to Tommy Fleetwood. He was lovely, Matt Fitzpatrick,” he continued.
“We all kind of go through the same gambit of emotions with the game, you know, the ups and downs. So, it’s good to have a chat with him and more importantly, watching him hit the ball.”
While fans may have expected talk of swing mechanics or snooker cues, O’Sullivan revealed that their conversation quickly shifted to something more personal.
“We didn’t really talk about snooker or golf,” he admitted.
“It’s just more about the pressures of it and the pressure we put on ourselves and the relationship and how difficult it can be.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Rory McIlroy snapped during their meeting in Dubai
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“So, yeah, very interesting. We all kind of had the same sort of vibe towards it, I suppose.”
Away from the fairways and the baize, O’Sullivan appears increasingly settled in his new lifestyle in the Middle East.
The seven-time world champion has embraced its quiet pace and, perhaps surprisingly, the anonymity it offers.
He insists his decision to live in Dubai with wife Laila Rouass is down to them wanting a calmer and more peaceful life.
“We’re not there for a bouji sort of lifestyle. I just like the simplicity of it there. The weather is great,” he said.
“One of the beauties of not knowing the language is I don’t really want to talk to everyone that I come in contact with.
“I know it sounds terrible but we just smile at each other, hello, and it’s good.”
