Rory McIlroy took time off this year ‘to realise what was important’ to him after calling off divorce from wife Erica Stoll

**Rory McIlroy Reflects on Personal and Professional Challenges, Opens Up About Time Away from Golf**

Rory McIlroy, one of the world’s top golfers, recently opened up about needing to step back from the sport earlier this year to reassess his priorities. Speaking on the first episode of the new season of *The Late Late Show* with Patrick Kielty on RTÉ, McIlroy candidly discussed how the pressures of life had become overwhelming. “I think sometimes life can get a lot, and it can get too much,” he remarked.

In June, McIlroy confirmed that he and his wife, Erica Stoll, had resolved their differences and decided to stay together, following his filing for divorce in a Florida court in May. The divorce petition was later voluntarily dismissed, marking a turning point for the couple, who were married in 2017 at Ashford Castle, Co Mayo. They share one daughter, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born in 2020.

“There’s been a lot going on this year, golf-wise and personally,” McIlroy told Kielty during the interview. “I had to take a little bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else.” He admitted that golf, along with the business side of it, had become all-consuming, leaving him little room to focus on other aspects of life. “I needed to take a bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me,” he added, emphasizing the importance of friends, family, and the joy of living. “You were this little boy in Holywood, and you’ve grown up to be whatever it is that I am, and I need to enjoy that time.”

Kielty asked McIlroy whether his daughter, Poppy, might follow in his footsteps and pursue a career in golf. McIlroy revealed that they had bought Poppy her first set of real clubs for her birthday this year. “She’s taken a little bit of interest,” he said. “If she did [pursue golf], I would be 100 percent supportive, but at the same time, I wouldn’t mind if she did something different.” He explained that being a sportsperson today comes with significant challenges, particularly in the age of social media. “If it’s your daughter, you’re trying to protect her from that as much as you can,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy had previously addressed rumors about his personal life in an interview with *The Guardian* in June, acknowledging the speculation surrounding his relationship with Erica. “There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game,” he said. He went on to explain that, after some reflection, he and Erica realized that their best future was as a family. “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

Court records from Palm Beach County, Florida, where McIlroy filed for divorce, showed that a “notice of voluntary dismissal” was filed in June, officially closing the case. The divorce filing initially described the couple’s marriage as “irretrievably broken” and requested that the prenuptial agreement they had signed before their wedding be enforced. The prenuptial agreement was sealed, and the couple sought to establish a parenting plan for their daughter, Poppy. McIlroy’s attorney was Thomas Sasser, who also represented Tiger Woods in his 2010 divorce.

McIlroy and Erica’s relationship dates back to 2012, when they met during the Ryder Cup, where Erica was working for the PGA of America. McIlroy has credited her with helping him get to the course on time after he misread his tee time for the Sunday singles.

During the *Late Late Show* interview, Kielty also shared a clip of himself with a nine-year-old McIlroy from 1998, where the future golf star was already showing promise. The two have maintained a friendship over the years, and they met again recently at the Irish Open in Co Down.

As for McIlroy’s golfing career, he described his experience competing in the Paris Olympics this year as “incredible,” showing his continued passion for the sport despite the personal challenges he faced this year.