Rory McIlroy-Erica Stoll Divorce Has Troubling Parallel to Caroline Wozniacki Split Controversy; Here’s Why

Rory seeks joint custody of daughter Poppy amid marital breakdown

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.

During a pre-championship press conference, reporters were warned to steer clear of personal questions. When asked about his personal state, McIlroy kept it short and sweet: “I’m ready to play this week.” Despite his focus, Rory failed to crack the top 10, while Xander Schauffele snatched victory, nudging McIlroy to third in the world rankings.

With Rory skipping the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge, all eyes are on his next appearance at the RBC Canadian Open, running from May 28 to June 2 in Hamilton, Ontario.