Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll’s split: What went wrong and why did it end in divorce?
Rory McIlroy’s seven-year marriage to Erica Stoll has hit the skids, with the PGA Tour star filing for divorce in Florida on May 13. According to reports, Erica reached a “breaking point” due to the couple’s growing estrangement. “A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” a source spilled to Us Weekly. “Rory was a hard person to be married to.”
Insiders say McIlroy, 35, and Stoll, a former publicist, were living “very different lives” in the last two years, with Rory constantly on the road. The arrival of their daughter, Poppy, in August 2020 only widened the rift. “She knew what she was getting into with his profession, but once they had Poppy, things really changed and she had a new perspective,” the source shared. “Erica was usually absent for most of his tournaments and was really focused on Poppy.”
Erica’s absence was felt at this year’s Masters, despite the family’s participation in the Par 3 contest at Augusta National last year. Rory’s divorce filing reportedly seeks split custody of Poppy. Last week, McIlroy’s camp released a statement emphasizing his desire to keep the split “respectful and amicable.”
Rory McIlroy prepares for PGA Championship without wedding ring, skips Charles Schwab Challenge
Rory was spotted sans wedding ring while prepping at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., for the 2024 PGA Championship. Meanwhile, Erica was spotted without her engagement ring on Wednesday, though she kept her wedding band firmly on, per the Daily Mail. No comment from her side yet.
