Rory McIlroy has split with childhood sweetheart Holly Sweeney for a love match with  world tennis number one Caroline Wozniacki.

The US Open champion and the Danish tennis star are now an ‘item’ according to sources close to McIlroy.

The Irish Independent claims that the pair hooked up in Germany recently after he decided to dump Sweeney again, this time before a poor showing at the British Open.

The 22-year-old McIlroy’s management company ISM confirmed in a statement that the young golfer has ended his relationship with Sweeney for the second time in less than a year.

“The long-term relationship came to an amicable end just before the British Open,” said the ISM statement.

McIlroy partied publicly with Sweeney on his return from his Major breakthrough at Congressional last month and paid tribute to her at his homecoming press conference.

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He made two visits to Wimbledon in the immediate aftermath of his US victory but it is believed he met Wozniacki at the World Heavyweight title fight between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg on July 2nd.

McIlroy originally broke up with Sweeney at the start of the year when he wanted to concentrate on his golf career.

He then admitted publicly – and frequently – that the decision to end the relationship then was a mistake.

“I realized pretty quickly that I had made a mistake, and I had to do a lot of begging and groveling to get her back,” said McIlroy at the time.

“She is fantastic. She takes my mind off golf and having her there made Sunday night at Augusta a lot easier, having someone there you really know.”

Sweeney lived with McIlroy in a plush $3 million mansion outside his hometown of Holywood in County Down and had travelled to Augusta for the final day of the Masters in April.

Suggestions the relationship was again rocky emerged however when McIlroy was spotted having an intimate dinner with Wozniacki earlier this month.

They have also exchanged messages on Twitter. When Wozniacki turned 21 last Monday, McIlroy tweeted: “You’re getting old.”

She replied: “At least now you will be able to buy me a drink in the US and not only in Hamburg.”

McIlroy is currently in Northern Ireland and attended celebrations to welcome British Open winner Darren Clarke home to Portrush with the Claret Jug on Monday.