The Love Journey of Golfer Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll: From Romantic Paris Proposal to Parenthood
Witness the beautiful relationship timeline of Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll, from their enchanting engagement in Paris to embracing parenthood together. Dive into the heartwarming story of this couple's love journey.
Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll's love story began from a long-standing friendship. The professional golfer first crossed paths with Stoll back in 2012 when he was in a relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. (McIlroy and Wozniacki broke up in 2014 after being together for three years and having a brief engagement.)
McIlroy shared with the Irish Independent in January 2017 that what he loves most about his relationship with Stoll is their friendship that preceded any romantic involvement. They first met when she was working for the PGA of America and renting a condo in Palm Beach. He appreciated her normal lifestyle compared to the extravagant jet-setting lifestyle of others.
The couple got engaged in Paris in December 2015 and tied the knot in 2017 at a castle in McIlroy's home country. The wedding was said to have been attended by notable guests such as actor Jamie Dornan from 50 Shades of Grey and musician Chris Martin from Coldplay.
The couple has chosen to keep their relationship private since getting married. Stoll prefers to maintain a low profile on social media, as her Instagram account is set to private.
Their privacy was evident when McIlroy only revealed his wife's pregnancy a few days before she gave birth in August 2020. Speaking at the BMW Championship, he shared, "We're expecting to become parents very soon, so we're incredibly excited. We've told our friends and family, but I didn't feel the need to announce it publicly. Nevertheless, we are thrilled and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our daughter."
McIlroy announced daughter Poppy’s birth via Instagram in September 2020.
Scroll down for a look back at McIlroy and Stoll’s private romance:
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: Press Eye Ltd/Shutterstock
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll sparked a lasting romance after years of friendship.
The professional golfer first met Stoll in 2012 while he was still in a relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. The couple broke up in 2014 after being together for three years and getting briefly engaged.
In an interview with the Irish Independent in January 2017, McIlroy expressed his admiration for the fact that he and Stoll were friends before their romantic relationship blossomed. He shared that they first crossed paths when she was working for the PGA of America and renting a condo in Palm Beach. McIlroy appreciated the normalcy of their connection, contrasting it with the extravagant lifestyles of some others in his circle. He found it refreshing to be with someone who valued a simpler way of life.
The couple got engaged in Paris in December 2015. Their wedding took place in 2017 at a castle in McIlroy's home country. The event was said to have been attended by some well-known guests, including actor Jamie Dornan from 50 Shades of Grey and musician Chris Martin from Coldplay.
Since getting married, the pair have chosen to keep their relationship private. Stoll doesn't share much on social media and has set her Instagram account to private.
Rory McIlroy and his wife kept their pregnancy very private until just before their daughter was born in August 2020. McIlroy shared the news with reporters at the BMW Championship, expressing their excitement about becoming parents soon. He mentioned that they had already told close friends and family about the news but didn't feel the need to make a public announcement. Despite this, they were thrilled and eagerly awaited their daughter's arrival.
In September 2020, McIlroy announced the birth of their daughter, Poppy, through a post on Instagram.
Scroll down for a look back at McIlroy and Stoll's private romance:
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: James Marsh/BPI/Shutterstock
2012
The twosome first crossed paths at the Ryder Cup. Still was working as a PGA transport official and helped McIlroy make his tee time after he overslept.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
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2014
After breaking up with Wozniacki, the athlete found love with Stoll. In May 2015, he expressed his happiness in an interview with the Times of London, saying, "I am very happy in my love life. The past six or seven months have been really nice. That part of my life is going great."
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: Dave Shopland/BPI/Shutterstock
December 2015
McIlroy popped the question in Paris. "It was a nice trip, a nice way to end the year," he told the Independent that month.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
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January 2017
McIlroy shared with the Irish Independent that what he loves most about their relationship is that they were friends before any romance blossomed. He feels comfortable being his true self around Stoll, appreciating the lack of judgment from the beginning. This kind of acceptance is rare to come by, especially for someone in his position.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: Press Eye Ltd/Shutterstock
April 2017
The pair exchanged vows at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. The nuptials were reportedly attended by A-list guests including Niall Horan, Ed Sheeran, Stevie Wonder and more.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: Courtesy of Rory McIlroy/Instagram
December 2019
"McIlroy shared a rare social media post with his wife, captioning it with '2019 was a great year!' He expressed his excitement for starting 2020 and a new decade with their @ashfordcastle family. McIlroy is looking forward to seeing what the next 12 months will bring. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!"
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
Credit: Courtesy of Rory McIlroy/Instagram
August 2020
The U.S. Open champion shared the exciting news of Stoll's pregnancy with the press during the BMW Championship on August 29. He joyfully mentioned that she was expected to give birth "any day now." Their daughter, Poppy, was born on August 31.
"She is the absolute love of our lives," he wrote via Instagram on September 3.
Pro Golfer Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll's Relationship Timeline: From Paris Engagement to Parenthood
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February 2023
McIlroy was featured in the Netflix docuseries Full Swing. However, he had some strict rules regarding filming his family.
During an interview with the Golf Channel, he mentioned, "I made it clear that you can film me at golf tournaments, but you're not allowed to come to my house, get in my car, or be near my family."
