Rory McIlroy has been called out for refusing to give wife Erica Stoll any sweets while they were seated in the Royal Box at Wimbledon. The incident occurred on day three of the tournament, where a host of golfing icons, including Luke Donald, Tommy Fleetwood, and Edoardo Molinari, were given the golden ticket.
McIlroy and Stoll in the Royal Box
McIlroy, 37, was joined by his wife of nine years in the front row and was in good spirits as the traditional bucket of sweets made its way down to his seat. Fellow Ryder Cup star Molinari handed him the green bucket, which matched the Masters Green Jacket that McIlroy was wearing.
When McIlroy went to offer Stoll some of the sweets, she placed her hand on the bucket and paused to assess her options. However, she clearly took too long, and McIlroy unwittingly moved the bucket away and began to pass it backwards just as his wife went to pick one.
BBC Cameras Catch the Moment
The incident was caught on BBC cameras, and presenter Clare Balding chuckled at the amusing moment. "This I think you're going to enjoy," Balding teased. "This is a section we're going to call Wimbledon wildcards, and first of all they are handing around the sweets in the Royal Box. That's [Edoardo] Molinari, he hands it through to McIlroy. That's a nice lether."
Tim Henman interrupted: "There's a good supply in that bucket. A few eclairs, a few sherbert lemons." Balding jumped back in: "Erica then! She's just about to take one and he rips it away!"
Reactions and Impact
The moment has drawn criticism from viewers, with many calling out McIlroy's behaviour as thoughtless. The incident highlights the lighthearted moments often captured at Wimbledon, but also underscores the scrutiny faced by public figures in their personal interactions.
