Rory McIlroy has secured a career Grand Slam, becoming only the 6th man to win all men’s major tournaments, but his love life has also dominated the headlines over the years
McIlroy has attracted many a-listers throughout his career(Image: Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy finally banished his demons, ended his long wait for victory in the Masters, surviving a rollercoaster final round and play-off against Justin Rose to come through the Augusta chaos with the Green jacket.
However, his private life often steals the spotlight from his sporting prowess.
About 11 months ago, Rory shocked fans when he filed for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, mere days before the US PGA Championship.
But in a dramatic turn, a month later the pair declared they had “resolved differences” and called off the split.
Since rocketing to fame in 2009, McIlroy’s been romantically linked to a string of A-list ladies.
The iconic video showed Rory dumping the ice all over Meghan (Image: @McIlroyRory/Twitter)Meghan Markle
Long before Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, snagged her Prince, she was rumoured to have caught the eye of golf champ Rory McIlroy.
Speculation about a potential fling took off when he nominated her for the viral ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Meghan was up for it but only if Rory was the one to drench her with the freezing liquid.
Their social media stunt sparked rumours of the duo enjoying a night out in New York, sipping drinks and dining together.
Meghan later raved about Rory on her now-defunct blog, The Tig, dubbing him “the real deal”. She wrote: “Ah yes. Rory McIlroy. THE Rory McIlroy. Whispered (and shouted) to be the top golfer in the world, adored by Tiger, respected by Palmer, and dumper of icy water onto my lone head for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. That Rory McIlroy.”
She continued: “‘He is a force who has the propensity to actually work hard and play hard – relishing intense practices to substantiate his title, embracing nights of sipping Opus One (his bold and impressive choice of wine) and indulging in group dinners at Cipriani – for the balance, of course.
“And yet, beyond his work/play ethic, the most endearing quality of this man is his character – as real and honest as they come, appreciating a simple smile, never shunning a fan photo, enjoying a plate of pasta with veal ragu, and expressing a love for his parents that is rarely seen in men his age. Or at any age, to be honest. He is not just the real deal… he is real. And perhaps that is what makes him even more cherished.”
Rory allegedly took three minutes to dump Caroline after wedding invites were already sent Caroline Wozniacki
Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki’s fairytale romance came to a screeching halt after their engagement in December 2013.
After three years together and supporting each other’s careers, their march to matrimony was abruptly cancelled shortly after wedding invitations had gone out, with The Times reporting how McIlroy ended the engagement with a brief three-minute phone call, leaving Wozniacki believing it was a prank.
Rory McIlroy opened up about his previous relationships in a frank 2017 interview with the Irish Independent, discussing the difficulties of dating someone equally famous: “I thought at the time that being with someone that was in a similar position to you was the obvious answer. But it isn’t, because you can never get away from it. You can never detach yourself and try to come back to the real world.”
Rory and Erica married in 2017 after meeting on PGA tour(Image: Getty Images)Erica Stoll
After breaking off his engagement, Rory McIlroy quickly rekindling things with Erica, who he’d first met in 2012 while she was working for the PGA of America.
The lovebirds tied the knot in 2017 at Ashworth Castle in Ireland, with guests including Coldplay’s Chris Martin and One Direction’s Niall Horan, and song by Stevie Wonder and Ed Sheeran.
In August 2020, the duo had their first daughter Poppy Kennedy McIlroy.
However, the fairytale stopped as Rory filed legal documents on Monday, May 13, 2024.
“Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed,” announced the 35 year old golfer’s reps. “They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will not be making any further comment.”
Just before the U.S. Open, Rory put an end to the speculation, confirming their reconciliation.
He shared: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
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