Rory McIlroy's defense of his Masters title this week unfolded against a backdrop of personal turmoil, as he filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll in May 2024 and a new book published Tuesday detailed his past relationships and late-night texts from Tiger Woods. A new book about Rory McIlroy titled 'Rory: The Heartache And Triumph Of Golf's Most Human Superstar' by Alan Shipnuck was published on Tuesday, according to multiple reports. Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica Stoll in May 2024, stating the marriage was 'irretrievably broken,' major media outlets reported.
, which annoyed Erica Stoll. Rory McIlroy hosted the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta National on Tuesday evening as defending Masters champion, according to major media. Rory McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll attended the Champions Dinner with him on Tuesday night, multiple reports indicate.
When he began thinking about co-parenting Poppy, and how often he would get to see her, he began to realise he couldn't have Poppy on tour. He wouldn't be co-parenting at all, but seeing his daughter once in a blue moon when he was back in the country. He couldn't handle that.
Rory McIlroy and his family participated in the Masters Family Day tradition on Wednesday, playing three holes of golf, sources said. Rory McIlroy won the Masters in 2023, completing a career Grand Slam, the IDF said. Alan Shipnuck's book claims Rory McIlroy was flirting with Erica Stoll at the 2012 Ryder Cup while still in a relationship with Caroline Wozniacki.
Rory McIlroy dated tennis star Caroline Wozniacki from 2011 to 2014, and they were engaged from December 2013 until he called it off months later, according to major media. Rory McIlroy began dating Erica Stoll in 2015, they got engaged that year, and married in 2017, multiple reports indicate. Rory McIlroy was in a relationship with Holly Sweeney from age 16 to 2011, major media reported.
Holly and I have been together since I had just turned 16 and she was 14. She knows me better than basically anyone else in this world does, apart from my parents. And to have someone like that with you is very grounding.
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll have a daughter named Poppy, born in 2020, the IDF said. Rory McIlroy's decision to reverse his divorce filing was driven by realizing that co-parenting would limit his time with daughter Poppy, according to a source close to the couple. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy are close friends and co-founded TMRW Sports, which launched the TGL indoor golf league, according to multiple reports.
Tiger Woods was absent from the 2025 Masters tournament, major media outlets reported. Alan Shipnuck's book concludes that Rory McIlroy did not have a romantic relationship with golf reporter Amanda Balionis, according to Alan Shipnuck's book. Paul McGinley claimed in Alan Shipnuck's book that Padraig Harrington's wife Caroline would have been a more suitable partner for Rory McIlroy than Erica Stoll.
She’s obviously my girlfriend but she’s also become my best friend over the past few years. I can say things to her that I wouldn’t be able to say to anyone else.
The problem is mine. The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had.
It is quite a difficult time for Caroline and myself, and the statement really said it all this morning. It was mutual, and we both thought it was the best for us, the best for both of us. Time to move on, and I’ve said all that I need to say.
He struggles to sleep, which I think is an effect of over-training, so I tell him to calm down sometimes. He'd be texting me at four o'clock in the morning: 'Up lifting. What are you doing?' Erica actually got p****d off with it. He was texting me in the middle of the night, and I was like, 'Tiger is in the gym.'
I'm drawn to him, yeah. He's an intriguing character because you could spend two hours in his company and see four different sides to him. He's thoughtful. He's smart. He can't sleep, so that's all he does - he reads stuff and educates himself on everything.
He has been an idol and a hero of mine over the years, and I feel pretty lucky that I've gotten to know him more intimately than some. And he is so passionate about what we're doing. He realises that the PGA Tour gave him a platform to build his brand and let him be who he is, and he has tremendous respect for the people who have come before us. Having his influence and having his counsel, not just myself but all of the players on the PGA Tour, he's a great advocate to have, and it's awesome to be doing these things with him. I have to pinch myself pretty much every day that I'm in this position.
We have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning. Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together.
He's always the first. Always. Tiger. Like, he'll text you, like, before the last putt drops. Always the first. He's unreal.
Full disclosure, I changed my number two days after the U.S. Open, so I didn't get it until he told me about it today. I was like, 'Oh, thanks very much.' So, I blanked Tiger Woods, which is probably not a good thing.
Tiger has been nothing but incredible to me over the course of my career in the good moments and the bad. He sent me an incredible message after [The Open at] St. Andrews in 2022. I met Tiger when I was 15 years old, and I've built up a great relationship with him, his whole family. ... I caught up with him earlier. It's always nice when your hero and the guy that you had on your bedroom wall is reaching out and offering words of encouragement.
It can't be easy being Rory's wife. I'm sure it's not easy for her because she's quiet by nature. Caroline Harrington would have been perfect as Rory's wife. She (Caroline) loves Padraig being a professional golfer more than Padraig loves being a professional golfer. But Erica is quiet and she kind of keeps her thoughts to herself. She's had to find where she fits in and where she doesn't.
I get to tell him to calm down sometimes.