Rory McIlroy has spoken out about his personal life after stepping away from golf amid his reunion with wife Erica Stoll earlier this year.
The 35-year-old Northern Irishman shocked the world when he filed for divorce from his wife of seven years in May, just days before the start of the PGA Championship.
The four-time major winner further shocked golf fans when, a month later, he called off his divorce from Erica, 36, ahead of this year’s US Open, saying their “best future was as a family”. The couple have a three-year-old daughter, Poppy.
Just days later, McIlroy suffered a heartbreaking defeat at Pinehurst No. 2 when he collapsed on the final five holes and lost to Bryson DeChambeau.
McIlroy announced he would take a short break amid the US Open implosion and divorce drama, and would return to the course for the Genesis Scottish Open and the Open Championship in July.
Rory McIlroy opens up about his personal life after reuniting with wife Erica Stoll
The Northern Irishman called off his explosive divorce from his wife of seven years in June.
Speaking to Patrick Kielty on Irish talk show ‘Late Late’ this week, McIlroy revealed he took the break to rediscover “what was really important to me”.
“I think sometimes life can be very intense and it can be too much,” he said. “A lot has happened this year, golf-wise and obviously personally as well. I had to take a little break and step away from the game more than anything else,” he told Kielty.
‘Golf and the golf business had become something that completely absorbed me over the last few years and I needed to take some time to realize what was really important to me: my friends, my family, enjoying myself, enjoying the fact that you were a kid in Hollywood and you’ve become what I am, and I need to enjoy that time.’
McIlroy’s attorney, Thomas Sasser, filed a Notice of Voluntary Withdrawal on his behalf on June 11 in Palm Beach County Court after he and Erica allegedly held secret meetings at her $22 million Florida home for a month in an attempt to save their marriage.
The meetings initially focused on how they would co-parent their daughter Poppy, but conversations eventually led to them reuniting, according to to the Irish outlet RSVP Live.
The shocking move came less than a month after Erica was served with papers at the couple’s marital home in Jupiter, Florida, informing her that McIlroy wanted to end their marriage.
McIlroy had filed for divorce from Stoll in May, just days before the PGA Championship.
McIlroy addressed speculation surrounding his marital status in a statement to The Guardian – two days before the first round of the US Open.
“There have been rumours about my personal life lately, which is unfortunate. Responding to every rumour is a nonsense,” McIlroy said.
‘Over the past few weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was to live together as a family. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a fresh start.’
McIlroy was in Kentucky preparing for the PGA Championship when his divorce summons was delivered to Erica at her sprawling mansion.
Their petition sought joint custody of their infant daughter and asked a judge to enforce a prenuptial agreement the couple signed before their 2017 wedding.
The Northern Irishman and Stoll married in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The couple share a three-year-old daughter, Poppy, who was born in 2020 (Erica and Poppy pictured in 2021)
McIlroy revealed to Kielty that Poppy, who was born in 2020, has shown interest in following in her father’s footsteps.
“We gave her her first real golf clubs for her birthday this year,” the world No. 3 said when asked if he could imagine his daughter becoming a golfer.
“She’s been a bit interested, if she did it I would support her 100 percent, but at the same time I wouldn’t mind if she did something different. It’s not just about being an athlete, there’s everything else that goes with it.”
“Especially in this age of social media and all the things you have to deal with. So if it’s your daughter, try to protect her from that as much as you can.”
