Rory McIlroy files for divorce from wife Erica Stoll
McIlroy has been seen for the first time since news of his divorce broke as he practices for this week's PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll.
Divorce papers were officially filed on Monday in a Florida court, seven years after the couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle.
Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed.
They stressed Rory's desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will not be making any further comment.
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll
Details of the divorce filings are available on the website of the Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller of Palm Beach County.
The world number two was seen today for the first time today during a practice round for the US PGA Championships as news of his filing for divorce reverberated around Valhalla in Louisville, Kentucky.
He stared straight ahead as he practiced shots from the driving range.
Rory McIlroy looks on from the driving range during a practice round prior to the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club today in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The news will come as a shock to the golfing world where Ms Stoll is often seen cheering her husband (35) on during tournaments.
However, she was notably absent from the sidelines at the Masters in Augusta last month.
In another sign that something was amiss in recent days, Mr McIlroy paid tribute to his mother at the weekend for US Mother’s Day, but did not mention the mother of his daughter Poppy.
The couple share a daughter who was born in August 2020.
Erica had already been very involved in the golfing world before she met Rory as she had been working for the American PGA since 2008.
Rory famously first met Erica in 2012 during the Ryder Cup when she helped him make his tee time for a Sunday singles match after he overslept.
She was working as the manager of the Championship Volunteer Operations for the organisation in 2011 and it was then that the stars aligned and she helped him get to his tee on time during the 2012 Ryder Cup.
The couple officially became an item in 2015 but still kept their relationship under wraps and have maintained a high level of privacy about their personal life.
Erica has been happy to stay out of the limelight and away from the cameras.
She no longer works for the PGA and she had been traveling the world by her husband's side, supporting him at a number of major tournaments. She even acted as his caddie in the 2018 Masters Par-3 Contest for the first time.
In 2017 more than 200 guests attended their sumptuous wedding at the 350 acre Ashford Castle estate.
Amongst the celebrities in attendance were Ryder Cup golfers Sergio Garcia, Paul McGinley, Martin Kaymer and Shane Lowry.
McIlroy’s last major relationship split was made public at Wentworth in May 2014 when he confirmed he had separated from former tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, just months after they had announced their engagement.
But it had no effect on his golf as he went on to win the BMW PGA that week and enjoyed his most successful season of his career to that point.
Not only did he win The Open at Royal Liverpool the following July, but he also won in his next two starts, capturing the WGC Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone and the PGA Championship at this week’s venue, Valhalla, bringing his major tally to four.
He will go off the 10th tee at Valhalla on Thursday with former Masters and US Open champion Johnson and former US Open winner Rose at 8:15 am local time (1.15 pm Irish time) before playing from the first at 6:40 pm Irish time on Friday.
