Rory McIlroy files for divorce from wife Erica Stoll ahead of PGA Championship

Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll are set to part ways, with the golf star filing for divorce just before the PGA Championship.

The couple, who have been married for seven years, began their romance back in 2014, two years after their first encounter.

The 35-year-old sportsman from Northern Ireland lodged the divorce papers in Florida this Monday. McIlroy's representatives released a statement confirming the split: "Rory's desire is to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He won't be making any further comment."

Their initial meeting took place at the Ryder Cup in 2012 at Medinah Country Club, Illinois reports the Mirror, where Stoll was on duty. She notably helped McIlroy make his tee time by arranging a police escort after he overslept.

At that time, McIlroy was engaged to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki, but following their separation in 2014, he admitted he "wasn't ready for all that marriage entails".

After ending his engagement, McIlroy soon found love with Stoll, proposing to her in Paris in 2015. Their wedding in 2017 was a grand affair at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, attended by celebrities like Niall Horan and Coldplay's Chris Martin, with performances by Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder.

McIlroy and Stoll, parents to Poppy Kennedy McIlroy born in 2020, have largely kept their personal life out of the public eye, with most of McIlroy's social media posts focusing on his golfing exploits. He also made it clear to the directors of the Netflix show Full Swing that his wife, daughter and parents were not to be filmed.

However, the entire McIlroy family was present for the par-three contest at the 2023 Masters, with Stoll and Poppy acting as his caddies for the ceremonial event.

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Stoll, a New York native, graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008 with a degree in marketing. She later worked for the Professional Golf Association of America.

McIlroy expressed his comfort at last year's PGA Championship at Oak Hill in Rochester to WHAM-TV, saying, "It's nice to come back to somewhere that you're familiar with. You've got really good memories and sort of good karma."

The news of their separation comes just two days before the PGA Championship at Valhalla, Kentucky, where McIlroy is considered one of the favourites to win the Wannamaker Trophy after showing impressive form in recent weeks.

McIlroy clinched victory at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside close friend Shane Lowry last month before triumphing at Quail Hollow on Sunday, arguably playing some of his best golf in years.

However, the Northern Irish golfer has been dealing with personal issues alongside his professional commitments. McIlroy arrived at Valhalla on Monday and managed to squeeze in a practice round on Tuesday before the weather intervened.

The world's second-ranked golfer is scheduled to hold his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday at 8pm BST.

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