Rory McIlroy’s love life has had as many twists and turns as the final holes of a major championship. His relationship with Erica Stoll has been a fascinating journey, full of highs, unexpected lows, and an eventual reconciliation that left fans both shocked and relieved. Their story, spanning over a decade, includes an almost-missed tee time, a whirlwind romance, a lavish wedding, a beautiful daughter, and a divorce that never actually happened.
The tale begins in 2012 at the Ryder Cup in Medinah, Illinois, where McIlroy, thanks to a time-zone mix-up, nearly missed his tee time. Enter Erica Stoll, then a PGA transport official, who arranged a police escort to get him to the course just in time. At the time, McIlroy was engaged to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, but that relationship ended abruptly in 2014—just months after they had sent out wedding invitations. McIlroy later reflected on his relationship with Stoll, telling the Irish Independent in 2017, “The thing I love about it is that we were friends before anything romantic happened.”
Rory McIlroy Married Erica Stoll in 2017—Are They Still Together?
Their romance officially began in late 2014, though they kept things quiet. By 2015, McIlroy was already hinting at his happiness, telling The Times, “I am very happy in my love life… the past six or seven months have been really nice.” The following year, he planned a proposal in Paris, but the 2015 terrorist attacks nearly derailed the trip. Ultimately, he went through with it, calling it a “perfect way to end the year.”
On April 22, 2017, McIlroy and Stoll tied the knot in a spectacular ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland. The event was heavily guarded, with a star-studded guest list that included Stevie Wonder (who performed), actor Jamie Dornan, and fellow golfers. The couple preferred to keep their private life out of the spotlight, but it was clear Stoll played a significant role in McIlroy’s life, offering a sense of stability and normalcy outside the pressures of professional golf.
They Welcomed a Daughter Three Years Into Their Marriage
In August 2020, their family grew when Stoll gave birth to their daughter, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, in Jupiter, Florida. McIlroy, overwhelmed with joy, announced her arrival on Instagram, writing, “She is the absolute love of our lives. Mother and baby are doing great.” He later reflected on fatherhood, saying, “You feel like you get to know your baby while she’s still in her mother’s belly, but to go from not having met this person to having unconditional love for them, there’s nothing like it in the world.”
For years, things seemed solid between McIlroy and Stoll. She was frequently absent from his tournaments, reportedly preferring a low-profile life focused on raising Poppy. But in May 2024, McIlroy shocked the golf world by filing for divorce in Florida, citing an irretrievably broken marriage. The timing was brutal—just three days before the PGA Championship. He played without his wedding ring, and his communications team issued a statement confirming the divorce filing. Speculation swirled about the cause, with sources suggesting that Stoll had grown lonely in their marriage and that becoming a mother had shifted her priorities.
Then, in a dramatic reversal, McIlroy called off the divorce just a month later. On June 11, 2024, his attorney filed a motion to dismiss the case. McIlroy released a statement to The Guardian, saying, “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.”
Fans Were Pleasantly Surprised by Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll Calling Off Their Divorce
The reconciliation took many by surprise, and McIlroy remained tight-lipped about what led to the change of heart. However, in the third season of Netflix’s Full Swing, which premiered in February 2025, McIlroy offered some rare insight. “There’s parts of my life I like to keep as private as possible,” he admitted. “Unfortunately, in this line of work, that isn’t always possible. I’ve always been protective of my loved ones from people who have ill intentions.”
He also acknowledged the difficulty of balancing his career with family life, saying, “Sometimes I’ve struggled with trying to be the best golfer, the best husband, the best dad. Sometimes I get overwhelmed and it can be a little too much for me.”
As of 2025, McIlroy and Stoll remain together, focusing on their family. They continue to keep their private life out of the public eye, though McIlroy has shared moments of joy, such as when Poppy and Erica joined him on the course after he won the DP World Tour Championship in November 2024. He’s also mentioned that Stoll would like to spend more time in England, though there are no plans for a permanent move.
For now, it seems that McIlroy and Stoll have found a way to move forward together, potentially with more children down the line. Whether their marriage will continue to withstand the pressures of fame, travel, and career demands remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: McIlroy values his family deeply. As he put it, “Thankfully, everything has worked out for the best, and we’re happy and moving forward.”
