Golfer Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce after seven years of marriage, according to court records in Palm Beach County, Florida. The filing, which comes just ahead of the PGA Championship, marks a surprising turn in McIlroy's personal life.
McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, met during the Ryder Cup in 2012, began dating two years later, and married in 2017. They have one daughter, Poppy, born in September 2020. TMZ first reported the divorce filing, which was made on Monday. Details from the petition for dissolution of marriage were not immediately available.
McIlroy's attorney, Thomas Sasser, previously represented Tiger Woods in his 2010 divorce. McIlroy's communications team confirmed the filing, emphasizing McIlroy's desire for a respectful and amicable process. "There will be no further comment," said McIlroy's manager, Sean O'Flaherty.
The golfer arrived at Valhalla on Tuesday, where he last won a major championship in 2014. His pre-tournament news conference is scheduled for Wednesday. McIlroy has not won a major in the past ten years.
McIlroy and Stoll's storybook meeting occurred in 2012 when Stoll, then working for the PGA of America, arranged a police escort for McIlroy, who nearly missed his Ryder Cup match due to a time zone mix-up. McIlroy was dating tennis star Caroline Wozniacki at the time, but the couple ended their engagement a year later. McIlroy and Stoll began dating in 2014 and got engaged in 2015.
The divorce filing came a day after McIlroy's victory at the Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking his second consecutive PGA Tour win and the 26th of his career. When asked about his post-victory plans, McIlroy mentioned returning home to reset before heading to Louisville.
The filing coincides with ongoing turmoil in the golf world due to the launch of Saudi-funded LIV Golf. McIlroy has been a vocal critic of LIV but has recently advocated for reunification within the sport. After resigning from the PGA Tour board last November, McIlroy was involved in plans to rejoin the board, which faced resistance. Instead, he was appointed to a committee negotiating with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, which is considering becoming a minority investor in the tour.
