McIlroy says arm OK, girlfriend Wozniacki even better

US Open golf champion Rory McIlroy confirmed yesterday that he and top-ranked tennis player Caroline Wozniacki are an item.

McIlroy, who attended Woz-niacki’s second-round match at the WTA’s US Open tune-up at New Haven on Tuesday, has been linked to the Dane for weeks, the two giving their Twitter followers plenty of information on their relationship.

“Why it’s going so well is that we have so much in common,” said Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, who said it would be fine to call Caroline his girlfriend.

“Obviously, different sports, but we’re pretty much in the same position at a young age. It’s nice to have someone that sort of understands what you’re going through.”

McIlroy had treatment on his injured right forearm at the Connecticut Tennis Centre on Thursday, a day after hitting golf balls at the nearby TPC River Highlands course.

McIlroy strained a wrist tendon in the first round of the PGA Championship earlier this month.

“It’s OK. It’s not 100 per cent,” he said.

McIlroy said he plans to play “maybe 17, 18 events” on the US PGA Tour next year.

As for Wozniacki’s sporting pursuits, he said he would be delighted if she could claim her first Grand Slam title at the US Open, which starts on Monday in New York.

McIlroy said the prospect of them both owning a US Open title was “pretty cool”.

Meanwhile, Wozniacki cruised into the next round and China’s Li Na had to endure a rain delay before booking her spot in the semi-finals of the New Haven Open.

Wozniacki remained undefeated advancing with a 7-5, 6-3 win over US teenager Christina McHale.

Three-time defending champ Wozniacki has a perfect 15-0 career record at the annual final tourna-ment before the US Open.

China’s Li endured several hours of rain delays before advancing with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 quarter-final victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.