Wife’s ‘breaking point’ led to Rory McIlroy’s $380m divorce

The reason Rory McIlroy’s estranged wife reached “breaking point” has leaked out days after the couple filed for divorce.

Rory McIlroy’s estranged wife, Erica Stoll reportedly reached “a breaking point” in their seven-year marriage before the star golfer filed divorce documents in Florida on May 13.

“A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” a source recently told Us Weekly.

“Rory was a hard person to be married to.”

McIlroy, 35, and Stoll, a former publicist, “were living very different lives the last two years with him being on the road, and eventually she had a breaking point,” the source said.

Things reportedly changed in the couple’s relationship after they welcomed daughter Poppy, now three, in August 2020, and parenthood priorities shifted for Stoll while travelling on the professional golf tour, The New York Post reports.

“She knew what she was getting into with his profession, but once they had Poppy, things really changed and she had a new perspective,” the source told Us Weekly.

“Erica was usually absent for most of his tournaments and was really focused on Poppy.”

Rory McIlroy celebrates with the trophy alongside his wife Erica and daughter Poppy after winning the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship. Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images.

She was noticeably absent at the Masters in April, although the family of three participated in the Par 3 contest at Augusta National last year.

McIlroy’s divorce filing also asked for split custody of Poppy.

The four-time-major champion was recently valued to be worth $380m (£200m).

His camp released a statement last week that “stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.”

McIlroy was spotted without his wedding ring last Wednesday while practising at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., ahead of the start of the 2024 PGA Championship — which Xander Schauffele won by a single stroke on the 18th hole.

Stoll was also seen without her engagement ring while out and about last week.

Her wedding band, though, appeared “firmly on,” per the Daily Mail.

Stoll had no comment at the time.

Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stroll arrive for a team photo on the Spanish Steps after an official Team photo ahead of the 44th Ryder Cup. Photo by Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP.

The pair shared some wonderful moments together. Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images/AFP.

In a press conference before the PGA Championship, the media were warned to refrain from asking questions about McIlroy’s personal life amid the divorce news.

When asked how he was doing on a personal level, McIlroy said: “I’m ready to play this week.”

The Northern Irishman, who last won the PGA Championship in 2014, didn’t crack the top 10.

Schauffele’s victory put him at No. 2 in the world golf rankings and pushed McIlroy to third.

McIlroy is not currently listed in the field of players competing in the 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge this week in Fort Worth, Texas.

He is set to play in the RBC Canadian Open, which runs from May 28 through June 2 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.

Erica Stoll and Rory McIlroy had a pre-nup. Photo: Getty and PBCC/MEGA.

The four-time major winner was first romantically linked to Stoll in late 2014, months after he broke off his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki.

They met two years prior at the Ryder Cup, where Stoll worked as a PGA transport official, according to People.

No reasons for McIlroy’s decision were immediately available, but the filing said that the marriage was “irretrievably broken” and it revealed that the couple had a pre-nuptials agreement.

McIlroy married Stoll in a star-studded ceremony at Ashford Castle in Ireland in 2017, with Stevie Wonder, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin among those in attendance, according to E! News.

— This story originally appeared on The New York Post and has been republished with permission

Originally published as Wife’s ‘breaking point’ led to Rory McIlroy’s $380m divorce