Rory McIlroy’s rival cracks joke over his divorce and shares theory

Adam Scott has made light of Rory McIlroy’s recent personal and professional struggles, joking that he would like to “struggle” in the same manner as the Northern Irishman. McIlroy, who recently filed for divorce ahead of the PGA Championship, has been navigating a challenging period in his career. Despite his difficulties in 2023, with the Genesis Scottish Open being his sole title win, McIlroy has shown a resurgence by winning both the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship in the last month. His performance at the PGA Championship, where he finished 12-under and tied for 12th, just three shots off fourth place, indicates he is returning to top form.

Following the news of McIlroy’s divorce, Adam Scott commented on his rival’s off-course issues, telling a reporter, “Maybe I need to struggle a little more like Rory on the golf course! I would like to struggle like he does. If it’s affecting his play, it’s hard to see. He’s played incredibly for a long, long time.”

In 2023, McIlroy’s attention was divided as he served as a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, playing a significant role in discussions between the PGA and the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF). With a potential partnership between the two organizations in the works, McIlroy decided to step down from his board role to focus on his game amidst a downturn in his performance. Adam Scott speculated that McIlroy might have felt his off-course responsibilities were hindering his success.

Scott, now a member of the PGA Tour’s transaction subcommittee and involved in PIF negotiations alongside Tiger Woods and McIlroy, reflected on the balance between professional duties and personal focus. “Maybe he thought it held him back from some success,” Scott continued. “I’m fully aware of where I need to put my time. At this point, I have a little bit of time for dealing with being on the PGA Tour board, and I still think I have enough time to work on my game and other things in my life as well. But I understand everyone—if you asked me 10 years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been willing to give that time at that point, and so I can understand maybe Rory found that challenging.”

The news of McIlroy’s divorce from Erica Stoll, whom he married seven years ago, also revealed insights into their personal lives. The couple, who share a three-year-old daughter named Poppy, had been living increasingly separate lives due to McIlroy’s demanding schedule. A source told US Weekly, “A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage. Rory was a hard person to be married to.” The source added that their differing lifestyles over the past two years, with McIlroy often on the road, eventually led to a breaking point for Erica.

Despite the personal upheaval, McIlroy’s recent performances suggest that he is finding a way to navigate through these challenges and return to his best form on the golf course.