And it's not Nadia Forde, which makes a refreshing change. This is Sasha Gale. She's a 23-year-old a part time model and former British Airways stewardess who's apparently been dating Rory for the last 5 weeks. She too is from Norn Iron.

According to her twitter (yes, it's not even 9:30 and I'm already creeping around a stranger's twitter page), she is an "enthusiast for fashion, whiskey and sunshine. Keen bean for travelling. Foodie."  "Fast cars" also make her happy.

According to independent.ie - who are also running stories entitled 'Nadia Forde jets home as Rory McIlroy returns to Ireland after championship' and 'Nadia Forde just not Rory McIlroy's 'type', says friends of Open champion' - McIlroy was spotted emerging from Liverpool's Empire Club with Gale "just hours after clinching the title."

A person of few words told The Irish Sun: "They are both happy with each other."

The Irish Mirror meanwhile actually have a photo of them together, smiling, in daylight. They were spotted as they walked to "pick up his €182,400 Overfinch Range Rover 4x4."

This news is sure to thrill Rory's ex-fiance, Caroline Wozniacki, who he publicly split from less than two months ago.