Rory McIlroy’s Divorce from Erica Stoll Highlights the Challenging Life of Golf WAGs Amidst Entourages and Glamorous Women

McIlroy, 35, filed for divorce from Stoll, 36, on May 13, ending their seven-year marriage just days before the PGA Championship. Reports suggest the couple reached a ‘breaking point’ as Stoll focused on motherhood while McIlroy was frequently on the road for tournaments.

An insider told Us Weekly that “Erica was lonely in their marriage,” and that “Rory was a hard person to be married to.” Another source revealed to People the broader challenges faced by partners of professional golfers, saying, “It’s a hard life being a golfer’s wife. They’re always away at tournaments and practicing; there has to be a lot of trust.”

The insider further explained that players are often surrounded by “hangers-on” and “beautiful women” during tournaments. “You either have to join them on tour and go with it, or just have trust in them. It’s impossible to expect them to be home and able to help with the kids.”

McIlroy and Stoll first met in 2012 when she was working as a transport official for the PGA of America, while McIlroy was dating tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. After ending his engagement to Wozniacki in 2013, McIlroy later got engaged to Stoll, and they married in 2017.

Since the divorce filing, rumors have surfaced about McIlroy’s relationship with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, as both have been seen without their wedding rings. Meanwhile, another source close to the tour claims McIlroy has been “super focused on golf” as he aims to end his decade-long wait for another major victory.

“He put his blood, sweat, and tears into defending the PGA against LIV Golf the last two years, and it was basically for nothing,” the source told People. “He’s just trying to find himself, focus, and get back to winning.”

McIlroy and Stoll share a three-year-old daughter, Poppy Kennedy, born in 2020.