RORY MCILROY etched his name into golfing folklore and ended an 11-year wait for a career Grand Slam when he finally slipped into a Green Jacket at The Masters on Sunday.
But of all 11 of those years, it’s the past 12 months that have probably been the biggest rollercoaster as the Northern Irishman went from the brink of divorce to Masters champion with wife Erica Stoll by his side.
Rory McIlroy finally won the Masters to complete his career Grand Slam[/caption]
The success comes after a whirlwind 12 months that saw him call off his divorce from wife Erica Stoll[/caption]
McIlroy was immediately moved to tears after his win[/caption]
McIlroy, 35, shocked the golfing world when it was revealed in May last year that he was filing for divorce from wife Erica.
The announcement sent shockwaves around the sport as McIlroy also readied himself for the second major of the season.
BOMBSHELL ANNOUNCEMENT
After seven years of marriage, McIlroy and Erica were seemingly ready to call it quits.
That was after McIlroy submitted a three-page document to a court in Florida last May detailing his request to file for divorce from Erica.
The pair, who welcomed their first daughter Poppy in 2020, have always kept their relationship as private as possible, but the bombshell news was unavoidable this time.
It was claimed by TMZ at the time that McIlroy had asked for the couple’s prenuptial agreement to be upheld, as well as implementing a shared parenting plan in the documents.
Things couldn’t have come at a worse time either, as McIlroy was gearing up to play in the US Open just two days after news broke.
The Ryder Cup hero was spotted practicing on the course without his wedding ring on and refused to answer any questions about his love life as he was bombarded by the media ahead of the major.
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Things didn’t seem to get to McIlroy on the course as he shot a superb five-under 66 to put himself in contention from the off.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t keep that momentum going and would ultimately fall away from the pack and earn a respectable T12 finish.
The star didn’t wear his wedding ring during the 2024 PGA Championship[/caption]
McIlroy refused to answer questions about his relationship during his media duties[/caption]
SWIRLING RUMOURS
Just a matter of days after the announcement of Erica and McIlroy’s looming divorce, rumours started to swirl that the 29-time PGA Tour event winner had been caught in a romance with someone else.
The Daily Mail claimed that he may be in a blossoming relationship with CBS Sports presenter Amanda Balionis after an interview between the pair sparked rumours online.
It was reported that McIlroy and Balionis were “the talk of the links” and “left many fans wondering just how close the pair have become”.
The rumours were fuelled by eagle-eyed fans spotting that Balionis, who married a football coach in 2022, hadn’t been wearing her wedding ring for two months.
However, those claims were rubbished when a close source to the two denied there was anything between them to US Weekly, and neither party commented on the conspiracy theories.
Rumours began to swirl about a romance with CBS Sports presenter Amanda Balionis[/caption]
Balionis had been spotted without her wedding ring[/caption]
An interview between the two sparked rumours which were rubbished by sources close to the pair[/caption]
Inside Rory McIlroy’s whirlwind love life
RORY MCILROY enjoyed a high-profile romance with former tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki before their split in 2014.
The following year, the golf ace began dating Erica Stoll, who he had first met on the PGA Tour in 2011.
Erica often interacted with players through her role as the PGA’s manager of championship volunteer operations.
She even prevented McIlroy from missing his tee time at the 2012 Ryder Cup after some confusion over the time zone.
The incident began a firm friendship between the pair, four years before their relationship turned romantic.
McIlroy and Erica were spotted on a string of dates in Rochester, New York, in the early days of their relationship.
Just eight months later, the couple got engaged in Paris and walked down the aisle at Ashford Castle in Ireland in 2017.
The pair then welcomed daughter Poppy into the world three years later.
Throughout their time together, McIlroy and Erica have kept their relationship to themselves, with the golfer keen to protect his family from the cameras during filming of Netflix’s Full Swing documentary series.
However, after seven years of marriage, McIlroy filed for divorce from Erica.
The reasons for the divorce were not disclosed, but the Northern Irishman submitted documents to a court in Florida.
However, a few weeks later, performed a U-turn on their decision to divorce.
McIlroy told the outlet: “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
DIVORCE U-TURN
One month on from McIlroy’s divorce request and golf fans were left even more shocked than before when the Holywood star revealed than he and Erica had CALLED OFF their divorce.
Despite McIlroy’s initial filing claiming that their relationship was “irretrievably broken”, the pair managed to work through their differences and get their relationship back on track.
McIlroy and Erica reportedly held crisis talks in their £16million Florida home over the course of a month to try an figure things out.
At the time, McIlroy told the Guardian: “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 realised that our best future was as a family together.
“Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
As with the initial announcement of the divorce, news broke in the same week as a major tournament – this time the US Open was just days away.
McIlroy returned to the course to try and win his first major in 11 years, some 13 years on from when he last won the US Open too.
Despite the U-turn, McIlroy decided to play without his wedding ring for the North Carolina competition.
It was almost the perfect week for the golfing superstar, having turned around his marriage he found himself battling for victory on the final day at Pinehurst against Bryson DeChambeau.
Unfortunately, McIlroy was unable to get the better of his LIV Golf counterpart and ultimately wound up finishing second and extending his wait for another major after a late collapse.
McIlroy and Erica called off their divorce after crisis talks[/caption]
McIlroy narrowly missed out on winning the US Open just days later[/caption]
RETURN TO HIS BEST
That showing at the US Open was a sign of where McIlroy was with his game, saying at the time that he was “more confident than ever” and “as close as I’ve ever been” to returning to glory.
And Erica returned to his side as he went on a PGA Tour and DP World Tour rampage for the remainder of the 2024 season.
The 37-year-old watched on and shared kisses with McIlroy as he won four events and secured 13 top five finishes across both tours last year.
That form banked McIlroy £16.8MILLION in prize money.
And reflecting on the success, he said: “It means a lot. I’ve been through a lot this year professionally and personally.
“It feels like a fitting end to 2024 – I’ve persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn’t able to get it done. So to be able to get over the line…I hung on and got the job done.”
McIlroy continued his form into the 2025 season, winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am and the Players Championship in the early stages of the season to set himself up for his best chance yet at ending his 11-year wait for a career Grand Slam with victory at The Masters.
Erica and Poppy supported McIlroy as he returned to form on both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour[/caption]
McIlroy won the Players Championship to continue his form into 2025[/caption]
Erica shares a kiss with McIlroy after his Players Championship success[/caption]
Masters 2025
RORY McILROY finally won the Masters to complete an epic Grand Slam after YEARS of waiting.
The fans’ favourite fell to his knees and roared in celebration after beating Justin Rose in a dramatic play-off.
McIlroy later broke down in an emotional TV interview as he said: “A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it.”
LATEST FROM AUGUSTA
MASTERS VICTORY
After 11 YEARS of waiting to become golf’s sixth Grand Slam winner, Rory McIlroy finally broke his Masters hoodoo on the 17th time of asking.
He didn’t make becoming golfing royalty easy, however.
McIlroy hit four double bogey’s in a whirlwind week of ups and downs that saw him need a play-off against Justin Rose to finally slip into a Green Jacket for the first time.
After breaking down in tears on the 18th green, McIlroy wasted no time in making his way over to wife Erica to give her an emotional embrace.
The pair shared a touching moment in front of the cameras as McIlroy gave little daughter Poppy a huge cuddle too.
Erica has been at Augusta with McIlroy all week, and even caddied for her husband during the famous family-oriented par-three contest on Wednesday.
While little Poppy caught the hearts of everyone watching and stole the thunder from her had when she sunk a 25ft putt on the same day.
McIlroy, who admitted to watching Zootopia with his four-year-old daughter between rounds all week, paid tribute to his family’s support after the win.
Fighting back even more tears, he said: ” Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team. They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through.
“They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again.
“The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy, never give up on your dreams. Never ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back. Keep working hard.”
Rory McIlroy finally became a Masters Champion at the 17th time of asking[/caption]
He immediately broke down on the 18th green as he became just the sixth player in history to complete a career Grand Slam[/caption]
He thanked his family for their support in his post-round interview[/caption]
Erica and Poppy had spent the week at Augusta National supporting McIlroy[/caption]