Masters winner Rory McIlroy’s relationship timeline with wife Erica Stoll amid year of divorce drama
When Rory McIlroy won The Masters on Sunday, he went straight to his wife, Erica Stoll, and their four-year-old daughter Poppy to celebrate.
Ending a decade of pain to win his fifth major, McIlroy beat Ryder Cup teammate Justin Rose in a play-off to claim his first green jacket and complete a career grand slam.
Breaking down in tears on the 18th green, the Northern Irishman was seen embracing Stoll and picking Poppy up into his arms.
He went on to describe the win as a “dream come true” in a press conference following the game and thanked his family for their support throughout his career.
“Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team,” he said before starting to cry again. “They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through. They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again.”
McIlroy and Stoll have been married for eight years, although not without some bumps along the way. Here is a timeline of their relationship over the years.
2012: Stoll and McIlroy meet at the Ryder Cup
When the couple first met, McIlroy was in a relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, and Stoll was working for the PGA of America. At the Ryder Cup, Stoll was a PGA transport official who helped the golfer make his tee time after oversleeping.
2014: McIlroy and Stoll begin dating
After a three-year relationship and brief engagement to Wozniacki, McIlroy began dating Stoll just months after their breakup.
2015: McIlroy says the relationship has been ‘really nice’ and proposes
He gushed about their relationship in a May 2015 interview with The Times of London, saying, “I am very happy in my love life. … The past six or seven months have been really nice. That part of my life is going great.” In December of that year, he proposed to Stoll while the two of them were in Paris.
2017: Stoll and McIlroy get married
The couple said “I do” at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, with many notable guests in attendance, including Niall Horan, Ed Sheeran, and Stevie Wonder.
2020: McIlroy reveals Stoll is pregnant
The Masters champion revealed to reporters during the BMW Championship on August 29 that not only was his wife pregnant, but she was due “any day now.” The couple welcomed their daughter Poppy on August 31, two days later.
May 2024: McIlroy files for divorce
After years of keeping his family life mostly private, McIlroy competed in the 2024 PGA Championship without his wedding ring on, and the Irish Star confirmed shortly after that McIlroy filed for divorce.
“Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed,” the publication read. “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.”
A source also told Us Weekly that her husband’s career had caused Stoll to feel lonely and like the two of them were “living very different lives” while she looked after Poppy and McIlroy played golf.
June 2024: McIlroy dismisses divorce petition
One month later, McIlroy filed a voluntary dismissal of his divorce documents. “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together,” McIlroy told The Guardian in a statement. “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
February 2025: McIlroy recalls the divorce in Netflix documentary
In the season three trailer of the Netflix documentary Full Swing, which follows the lives of professional golfers, McIlroy spoke about the aftermath of filing for divorce. “I’ve struggled with trying to be the best golfer, the best husband, the best dad,” he admitted.
