Rory McIlroy files for divorce from wife of seven years on eve of PGA Championship
On the day before the PGA Championship, Rory McIlroy has initiated divorce proceedings with his spouse, Erica Stoll, after being together for seven years.
Based on official documents from Palm Beach County court in Florida, it has been confirmed that the pair, who first crossed paths during the 2012 Ryder Cup, are now going their separate paths.
They started their romantic relationship after two years and tied the knot in 2017. They welcomed their daughter, Poppy, in September 2020.
On Monday, the filing was initiated and a confirmation of the separation was given by Sean O'Flaherty, the manager of McIlroy.
He announced that the team responsible for Rory McIlroy's public relations has confirmed that a divorce has indeed been submitted.
Rory's wish to make this challenging period as peaceful and harmonious as possible was emphasized by them.
He mentioned that he will not make any additional remarks.
The initial reporting on the filing came from TMZ and the lawyer representing McIlroy was identified as Thomas Sasser. Sasser was also the lawyer who helped Tiger Woods navigate his divorce from his wife back in 2010.
As McIlroy arrived at Valhalla Golf Club for the PGA Championship on Tuesday, he received news that caught his attention.
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It's been ten years since McIlroy won a major tournament, with his last victory being the PGA Championship in 2014. He's supposed to have a press conference before the tournament on Wednesday.
The renowned golfer and Stoll were introduced while she was employed by the PGA of America in 2012 for the Ryder Cup held at Medinah, situated in the suburbs of Chicago. It was during this event that McIlroy nearly missed a match as he had incorrectly recalled his current time zone.
Stoll made arrangements for a police escort to Medinah, which ultimately assisted in McIlroy's timely arrival at the destination location. Despite the minor setback, he managed to secure a victory against Keegan Bradley while Europe gathered together to achieve overall success.
During that period, McIlroy was in a relationship with tennis sensation Caroline Wozniacki. The couple took their relationship to the next level and got engaged after a year.
However, McIlroy unexpectedly ended their relationship through a phone call, and then began a romantic involvement with Stoll later in that very year. Eventually, in 2015, they decided to take the next step and get engaged.
The petition for divorce has arisen in the midst of turmoil in the golfing world due to the introduction of LIV Golf, which is supported by Saudi Arabia.
Over the past couple of years, the man from Northern Ireland has played a significant role by heavily criticizing LIV. Later on, he modified his opinions and began advocating for a kind of reunion.
