In a surprising turn of events, Rory McIlroy has reportedly filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, just three days before the start of the 2024 PGA Championship. The news comes shortly after McIlroy’s recent triumph at the Wells Fargo Championship, where he dominated the field and secured a $3.6 million prize.
Rory is said to have filed the divorce documents on Monday, just ahead of the year’s second Major at Valhalla, where he is seeking his third consecutive PGA TOUR win and his first Major title in a decade.
McIlroy and Stoll, who tied the knot in 2017, reside in Jupiter, Florida, with their three-year-old daughter, Poppy. The couple’s relationship began shortly after McIlroy’s highly publicized split from tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014. McIlroy and Stoll got engaged a year after they started dating, leading to a private yet lavish wedding ceremony in Ireland.
Erica has frequently accompanied Rory at golf events, though her absence at this year’s Masters Par-3 Contest raised no immediate suspicions about their marriage. However, observers noted McIlroy’s Mother’s Day tribute over the weekend, where he mentioned his own mother but not Stoll, hinting at underlying issues.
The split with Wozniacki in 2014 was also abrupt, occurring just months before their planned wedding. McIlroy ended their engagement in a brief phone call despite having expressed his love for her shortly before.
As McIlroy prepares for the PGA Championship, it remains to be seen how the news of his divorce will impact his performance on the course. His recent victory, however, suggests he remains focused and undistracted.
