Rory McIlroy alleged Ryder Cup moment with Erica Stoll resurfaces as new book revisits Caroline Wozniacki split drama (Image via Getty)
The messy timeline of Rory McIlroy’s love life is back in the spotlight thanks to some juicy details in a new book. According to golf journalist Alan Shipnuck in his latest work, Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar, the pro golfer might have been laying the groundwork with his current wife, Erica Stoll, long before his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki actually ended.
While McIlroy and Wozniacki were the “it couple” of sports back in 2012, Shipnuck claims Rory was already “smitten” with Stoll.
The two met at the Ryder Cup that year when Stoll, who worked for the PGA, helped Rory get a police escort to his tee time because he was running late. From that moment on, sources in the book say Rory was making his interest very obvious.
Insider Claims Rory McIlroy Was “Not Subtle” About His Interest in Erica Stoll During the 2012 Ryder Cup
The book, which was recently excerpted by the Daily Mail, includes some pretty bold quotes from former PGA employees who saw the two together.
One staffer told Shipnuck: “He was throwing every ounce of game he had at Erica. It was not subtle. It became a running joke among a few of us: Has Rory closed the deal yet?” At the time, Rory and Caroline Wozniacki were still very much together and even got engaged a year later on New Year’s Eve.
While there isn’t any hard proof that he cheated, the book alleges that PGA staff members had a group chat going that was full of “winking emojis” regarding how close Rory and Erica were becoming.
Alan Shipnuck Details the Sudden 2014 Breakup With Caroline Wozniacki and Recent Marriage Drama
The world was shocked in May 2014 when Rory called off the wedding just days after the invitations were mailed. He put out a brief statement at the time saying, “I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.” He almost immediately started dating Erica Stoll after that. While they eventually married and had a daughter, things haven’t been perfect.
Just last year, in May 2024, Rory filed for divorce only to take it back a few weeks later. Shipnuck suggests the reconciliation might have been a business move, writing: “If you are an internationally famous athlete heading toward becoming a billionaire, it is probably unwise to file for divorce unless you are 1 million percent certain there is zero chance to save the marriage.”
