Last Updated on September 4, 2024
Image source: people.com
When you’re a celebrity of Rory McIlroy’s repute, your private life is constantly the subject of public scrutiny. Numerous tabloids have associated the pro golfer with several women over the years, including Meghan Markle.
We may never know for sure whether McIlroy truly dated all the women he has been romantically linked to. However, his current marital status is public knowledge, and the same that shall be the focus of this article.
Read on as we uncover the untold story about McIlroy’s current wife while also shedding some light on his relationship history.
Who Is Rory McIlroy?
Rory Daniel McIlroy is a Northern Irish professional golfer best known for being a member of both the PGA and European Tours.
McIlroy is unarguably one of the finest Irish golfers in history. He has won four major golf championships, including the 2011 U.S. Open, 2012 and 2014 PGA Championships, and the 2014 Open Championship. These achievements made him one of the only three pro golfers (alongside Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus) to win four majors before their 25th birthday.
McIlroy’s other noteworthy achievement was becoming the #1 male golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking. He remained in that prestigious position for over 100 weeks.
Who Is Rory McIlroy Married To?
Rory McIlroy is married to a woman named Erica Stoll. Stoll is an American socialite who’s best known for her role as a celebrity spouse.
But while many people came to know Erica Stoll after exchanging wedding vows with McIlroy, the socialite was doing considerably well for herself even before meeting her future husband.
Stoll served as manager of the Championship Volunteer Operations initiative of the PGA America in 2011. She left the job after marrying McIlroy and can now be seen accompanying her husband to his numerous tournaments worldwide.
Stoll has previously stated that she’s uninterested in being in the spotlight. But seeing as she has become an integral part of her husband’s professional career, it’s understandable why she’s regularly on the media.
Erica Stoll’s Early Life and Education Background
Erica Stoll was born on September 10, 1988, in Irondequoit, New York, to Mark and Bonnie Stoll. She’s 35 years old as of 2023, a few months older than her husband who was born on May 4, 1989.
Erica has one sibling, a sister called Natalie. Both were mostly raised in New York by their parents.
Stoll attended West Irondequoit High School and graduated in 2003. She later earned a bachelor’s degree from Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008.
When Did Erica Stoll Meet Rory McIlroy?
Erica Stoll led a quiet life before meeting her future husband. She rarely hit the headlines even though she was working for one of the world’s largest sports organizations – PGA America. McIlroy would later confirm his wife’s then-secretive lifestyle in an interview with The Independent.
According to Golf Monthly, Erica and Rory met in 2012 while she was still working for PGA America. The outlet reports that Stoll helped get McIlroy to the golf course after he overslept and nearly missed the Ryder Cup at Medinah, Illinois.
Erica initially intended on driving Rory to the golf course. However, she later arranged for a police escort as Rory was fast running late for his tee off.
McIlroy made it to the venue 12 minutes before tee off and managed to dispatch his opponent Keegan Bradley, all thanks to Stoll. The two began dating shortly after.
Stoll continued to maintain a low profile for several years after her first encounter with McIlroy.
Erica Stoll and Rory McIlroy’s Engagement and Marriage
Erica Stoll and Rory McIlroy reportedly became engaged in December 2015. McIlroy proposed to his girlfriend during a romantic vacation in Paris, France.
Stoll and McIlroy eventually tied the knot on April 22, 2017. The wedding took place at Ashford Castle in Cong, County Mayo – Ireland. And while the event was largely a private affair, it attracted high-profile personalities in sports and entertainment.
Among noteworthy attendees were One Direction singer-songwriter Niall Horan, Coldplay’s lead vocalist Chris Martin, and legendary soul singer Stevie Wonder. Pro golfers Paul McGinley and Padraig Harrington were also in attendance.
Rory spent an estimated £920,000 for his wedding with Erica. The couple also incurred undisclosed but likely extravagant expenses during their honeymoon at Canouan Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Is Erica Stoll Rory McIlroy’s First Lover?
Rory McIlroy was romantically linked to a few women prior to meeting Erica Stoll.
McIlroy dated Danish professional tennis player Caroline Wozniacki from 2011 to 2014. The couple became engaged on December 31, 2013 but separated a few months later. News of their break-up became public on May 21, 2014.
It’s unclear why McIlroy ended his engagement with Wozniacki, especially considering he had already sent out wedding invitations. However, it was widely rumored that he was already seeing Stoll at the time.
Rory McIlroy has also been linked to Meghan Markle before the Duchess of Sussex met Prince Harry.
Rumors of McIlroy’s romance with Markle began in 2014 after Page Six stumbled on a social media post with subtle hints that the couple might be dating. This was after Meghan shared a video of herself doing the then-famous ALS Ice Bucket Challenge with Rory. She captioned the video “#ALSicebucketchallenge accepted!, I nominate @serenawilliams (you better do it!) — Special thanks to @McIlroyrory :).”
According to Page Six, crowning the post with a smiley face was a covert gesture at flirtation. However, many disagreed with the outlet’s presumptions, claiming the pair were no more than best friends. Besides, neither Rory nor Meghan publicly addressed the rumors.
Other Fun Facts About Erica Stoll
Erica Stoll is an avid sailor. She learnt sailing from both her father and grandfather.
Stoll also loves to bake. Every year, the former PGA America employee bakes cookies in PGA colors and shares the pictures on her social media accounts.
Erica is also a fan of the dating reality television show ‘The Bachelor.’ And as with many celebrity wives, Stoll is a pet lover. She has a dog named Miss Lilly Belle.
