Rory McIlroy jokes he would be a virgin if it wasn't for golf ahead of Ryder Cup

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Rory McIlroy jests he would be a virgin if it wasn't for his golf skills
McIlroy is hoping to lead Europe to Ryder Cup glory this weekend
World number one has won four majors in his career
25-year-old has been linked to several women since splitting with fiancee and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in May

Published: 06:09 EST, 24 September 2014 | Updated: 08:01 EST, 24 September 2014

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Rory McIlroy has joked that he would still be a virgin if it wasn't for his golfing ability.

The world number one light-heartedly jested for a television documentary that if he hadn't taken up the sport his luck with women may be different.

McIlroy, a four-time major winner, is hoping to lead Europe to Ryder Cup glory against the USA this weekend at Gleneagles and has courted speculation about his private life since his split with ex-fiancee and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in May.

Rory McIlroy has joked that he would be a virgin if it wasn't for his golfing skills

The world number one has won the Open (pictured) and the PGA Championship this summer

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McIlroy is currently preparing for the Ryder Cup as member of the Europe team which starts on Friday

Sasha Gale (left) has recently been romantically linked with McIlroy, who was also falsely rumoured at the same time to have been dating model Nadia Forde (right)

Since ditching long-time girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki, 24, as she was planning their wedding in May, McIlroy has been building a reputation as something of a ladies man.

The multi-millionaire has revealed that what happened was 'for the best in terms of my golf.'

But the 25-year-old was recently romantically linked with receptionist Sasha Gale, who is from Lisburn, County Antrim, a city just the other side of Belfast from where he grew up.

Prior to that, he was spotted out with model Nadia Forde, fuelling speculation they were an item.

Pictures taken from outside the hotel showed him cuddling up to one brunette wearing a white bodycon dress.And more recently, McIlroy was last month seen out in Manchester as he and a friend joined a group of pretty women at the Lowry hotel at 3am after a Saturday night out.

McIlroy split from his former fiancée tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki in May

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McIlroy's quip about his virginity was borrowed from Stoke footballer Peter Crouch (right)

McIlroy's latest comment about his relationships with women came as he spoke alongside fellow Northern Irish Major champions Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell for a documentary to be shown on BBC2 on Thursday.

In a sneak peak seen by The Sun, he also told how his growing fame forces him to put a 'shield up' when he is out in public.

McIlroy's 'virgin' joke was, of course, not original. He was in fact echoing the very same comment given by lanky footballer Peter Crouch when he was asked what he'd be if it wasn't for his on-pitch success.

But while Crouchy seems happily settled down with lingerie model wife Abbey Clancy, McIlroy's romantic antics look set to continue for a while at least.