Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, after eight years of marriage. The Northern Irish golfer's communications team confirmed the news, stating that McIlroy desires the process to be 'as respectful and amicable as possible' and that he will not be making further comment.
The couple first met at the Ryder Cup, where Stoll, then a PGA transport official, helped McIlroy make his tee time after he overslept. McIlroy was in a relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki at the time. After his engagement to Wozniacki ended, McIlroy began dating Stoll and proposed in Paris in December 2015.
They married at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in 2017, with guests including Niall Horan, Ed Sheeran, and Stevie Wonder. Their daughter, Poppy, was born in August 2020. McIlroy had previously spoken about his happiness in his love life, telling The Times of London in 2015 that 'that part of my life is going great.'
A source told Us Weekly that Stoll felt lonely due to McIlroy's golf career, saying they were 'living very different lives' while she cared for their daughter. McIlroy appeared without his wedding ring at the 2024 PGA Championship, shortly before the divorce filing.
In a statement to The Guardian, McIlroy said: 'Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.' The couple had reconciled after McIlroy filed a voluntary dismissal of the divorce documents.
