Woods deliver divorce papers to Erica Stoll

Rory McIlroy’s divorce from Erica Stoll has recently come to light, with court documents revealing that the papers were served by a private investigator at their luxury home in Florida. McIlroy, a four-time major golf champion, filed for divorce and the enforcement of a prenuptial agreement on May 13, shortly after his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. The filings in Palm Beach County cite the marriage as “irretrievably broken.”

The 35-year-old McIlroy signed the divorce papers digitally on May 9, and the divorce proceedings were initiated the following Monday. According to court documents filed on May 13, Carl Woods, a private investigator, served the papers to Stoll at the McIlroy residence in the exclusive Bear’s Club community at 10:30 a.m. Woods, with a background as a police officer since 1987 and credentials as a vehicle homicide investigator and certified process server, is well-established in Palm Beach County.

Stoll was informed that she had 20 days to respond to the petition or risk losing the case by default. Reports indicate that Stoll has yet to file a response. Meanwhile, McIlroy has maintained that his primary focus remains on his golfing career, aiming to return to winning form. He recently finished tied for 12th at the PGA Championship. A source told People magazine that McIlroy is concentrating on finding himself and reclaiming his winning ways, noting his recent lack of significant victories over the past five years.

McIlroy’s struggle to secure another major title in the past decade has been widely discussed. Former Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley attributes McIlroy’s prolonged wait for a fifth major to both stronger competition and psychological challenges. Speaking on the Golf Channel, McGinley highlighted that the competitive field has intensified since McIlroy’s earlier successes, and the psychological pressure of not winning a major in recent years has been building.

McGinley pointed out that while McIlroy has maintained a remarkable win ratio of 10% in PGA Tour events, his inability to clinch another major is a significant hurdle. He believes that once McIlroy overcomes this barrier, he could potentially win several more majors. McGinley suggested that a familiar and successful venue, such as one where McIlroy has previously triumphed, might provide the spark needed to reignite his major-winning form.

Despite the personal turmoil, McIlroy remains determined to focus on his golfing career and achieving further success on the course.