The golf world has been rocked by stunning news as four-time major champion Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll.
Court documents obtained from Palm Beach County, Florida reveal the Northern Irish golf superstar cited the marriage as "irretrievably broken" in his filing on Monday. The couple, who tied the knot in a lavish 2017 ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland, have one daughter together, three-year-old Poppy.
Timing Raises Eyebrows
The divorce filing comes at a particularly sensitive time for McIlroy, who is preparing to compete in next week's PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky. The 35-year-old is seeking to end his decade-long major drought at the very venue where he claimed his last major victory in 2014.
McIlroy's representatives have remained tight-lipped about the situation, with the golfer's communications team stating they had "no comment" on the personal matter.
From Secret Romance to Fairytale Wedding
The couple's relationship began discreetly after McIlroy's dramatic breakup with former fiancée and tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014. Stoll, a former PGA of America employee, played a pivotal role in McIlroy's career when she helped him avoid missing his tee time during the 2012 Ryder Cup.
Their relationship blossomed away from the public eye before culminating in their spectacular 2017 wedding, attended by golfing elite including Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.
Recent Signs of Trouble
Observant fans had noted McIlroy's absence from social media posts in recent months, with Stoll not appearing to accompany him to several tournaments. The couple were last seen together publicly during the Ryder Cup in Rome last autumn.
This development marks another significant personal crossroads for McIlroy, whose high-profile split from Wozniacki made global headlines nearly a decade ago.
The golf star now faces the challenge of navigating both personal turmoil and professional pressure as he prepares for one of the most important tournaments of his career.
