Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll's relationship history after missed tee time saw love blossom

Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll. McIlroy, the Co Down native, married Stoll in 2017 in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle in Co Mayo , and the couple have one child together. Their relationship started in strange circumstances with McIlroy having to be awoken by Stoll after he slept through an alarm that almost made him miss the tee time for his match up at the Ryder Cup.

The reasons behind the divorce have not been disclosed with McIlroy preparing for the upcoming PGA Championship, an event that he will be on media duties for on Wednesday. McIroy first met Stoll, a former PGA employee, in 2012 at the Ryder Cup, hosted at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.

McIlroy has slept through his alarm and Stoll, an alumni of Rochester Institute of Technology, was tasked with waking the Northern Irishman up. Stoll, who holds a marketing degree, organized a police escort that ensured the Team Europe member arrived at the course on time to make his tee-off time.

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At the time, McIlroy, who represented Ireland at the 2016 Olympics, was in a relationship with Danish tennis superstar Caroline Wozniacki. The sporting couple even got engaged before their courtship, which started in 2011, ended in 2014, with the Northern Irishman admitting he wasn't prepared for such a commitment.

"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," McIlroy said at the time. Speaking to the Guardian in 2014, Wozniacki says that McIlroy broke up with her over the phone and the pair haven't spoken since.

Soon after, McIlroy began dating Stoll in 2015. Their romance quickly bloomed and in December of that year, the couple announced their engagement, with the proposal coming in Paris, France.

Their marriage took place in the summer of 2017, with the nuptials costing a reported €200,000. The ceremony was a star-studded affair that saw performances from Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder, while Padraig Harrington and Niall Horan were among the famous names in attendance.

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Together, McIlroy and Stoll have one child, Poppy, who was born in 2020. The couple kept details of their relationship private, but Stoll was seen supporting her husband, while he was playing for Team Europe at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

The Northern Irishman's communication team confirmed the news of the divorce on Tuesday after reports of the marriage's split had circulated earlier in the day. "Rory's desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He won't be making any further comment," read the official release.

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