Golfing icon Rory McIlroy has navigated intense public scrutiny both on the fairway and in his personal life, culminating in a dramatic but brief divorce filing from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, in 2024. The Northern Irishman, a five-time major champion who finally secured his career Grand Slam by winning the Masters in April 2025, later withdrew the petition, confirming a reconciliation with Stoll.
From a Fairy-Tale Wedding to Divorce Papers
Rory McIlroy married Erica Stoll in a lavish 2017 ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland, with celebrities including Chris Martin and Ed Sheeran in attendance. The couple welcomed their daughter, Poppy, in 2020. However, in May 2024, McIlroy's team confirmed he had filed for divorce in a Florida court, requesting privacy for the family.
In a surprising twist, the petition was withdrawn just one month later. Before the US Open, McIlroy issued a statement clarifying the situation. He said that over recent weeks, he and Erica had "realised that our best future was as a family together" and had resolved their differences, looking forward to a new beginning. The family was later seen celebrating together at his Race to Dubai victory in November.
Past Romances: Meghan Markle and a Broken Engagement
Long before his marriage to Stoll, McIlroy's love life attracted significant headlines. In 2014, he was linked with Meghan Markle, then an actress on Suits, after she nominated him for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Their meeting, where McIlroy tipped ice water over her, went viral. They were later spotted dining together in New York and Dublin.
Markle wrote glowingly of him on her blog, The Tig, calling him the "real deal" and praising his character. Despite the speculation, sources close to both insisted they were never romantically involved.
McIlroy's most public relationship prior to Stoll was with Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. The pair became engaged on New Year's Eve 2013 after three years together. Shockingly, McIlroy ended the engagement via a brief phone call mere months later. Reflecting in 2017, he said being with someone in a similar spotlight wasn't the answer, as "you can never get away from it."
Reconciliation and Moving Forward
During the period of marital uncertainty, McIlroy was also linked to CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis after a warm post-interview embrace, though sources denied any romance. McIlroy has since focused on his family and his game, enjoying a stellar 2025 which included wins at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship before his historic Masters triumph.
Speaking after his DP World Tour Championship win, an emotional McIlroy referenced a challenging year, stating, "I've been through a lot this year professionally, personally." His embrace with his daughter and kiss with wife Erica on the 18th green signalled a united front as they move past the turbulence.
