Need to know
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll have been together for over 10 years, but their relationship hasn't always been plain sailing
10:46, 30 Nov 2025
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll's relationship has had its ups and downs(Image: Mateo Villalba/Getty Images)
Every key moment from Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll's romance
- Initial meeting: Rory McIlroy first met Erica Stoll in September 2012 at the Ryder Cup, where she was working as a PGA transport official. She famously helped him make his tee time by arranging a police escort after he overslept due to a time zone mix-up.
- A friendship blossoms: Although McIlroy was in a high-profile relationship at the time of their first meeting, he and Stoll remained friends for a couple of years. Their connection was reportedly refreshing for McIlroy, as Stoll was living a "normal life" away from the spotlight.
- The start of their romance: After McIlroy ended his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in May 2014, his relationship with Stoll turned romantic. They began dating towards the end of 2014 but kept their budding romance relatively private at the start.
- Engagement and marriage: The couple got engaged during a romantic trip to Paris in December 2015, approximately a year after they started dating. They married in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland in April 2017, with celebrities like Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder reportedly in attendance.
- Welcoming their daughter: Three years into their marriage, in August 2020, the couple welcomed their first and only child, a daughter named Poppy Kennedy. McIlroy later called her "the absolute love of our lives," emphasising the importance of family.
- Divorce proceedings filed: In a shocking development in May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll in Florida, citing that the marriage was "irretrievably broken." The filing came after seven years of marriage and stunned the golf world just before a major tournament.
- Swift reconciliation: Just one month later, in June 2024, McIlroy reversed his decision to divorce, announcing that he and Erica had reconciled. He shared that they realised their "best future was as a family together" and had resolved their differences.
- Ryder Cup drama: During the 2025 Ryder Cup, Stoll was stunned when a spectator threw a cup, reportedly filled with beer, toward the players' entourage. The cup glanced off her hat, leaving Stoll visibly shocked.
- McIlroy's response: A video captured Rory McIlroy comforting his wife on the course immediately after the incident, checking on her and wiping her hat. McIlroy later publicly condemned the "unacceptable" behaviour, stating that his wife's personal life "should be off-limits."
- READ THE FULL STORY HERE: Rory McIlroy’s private comment to Erica Stoll as he speaks about retirement