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6 months ago
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Rory McIlroy refused to take questions about his divorce from wife Erica Stoll on Wednesday as he faced the media for the first time since announcing the news.
The Northern Irishman has been the talk of Valhalla since it was revealed that he is splitting from his wife of five years, just days ahead of the PGA Championship.
In a statement, McIlroy's team 'stressed Rory's desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible', before adding that he 'will not be making any further comment'.
The media were then warned at the start of the press conference not to ask questions about McIlroy's personal life, while he sat with his head bowed.
The only non-golf question the 35-year-old fielded was about how he was feeling 'on a personal level', to which he responded, simply: 'I'm ready to play this week.'
Rory McIlroy faced the media but refused to answer questions about his divorce from his wife
McIlroy sat with his head bowed as the press officer told media not to ask personal questions
PGA Tour star McIlroy filed for divorce from wife Stoll (pictured right) in Florida on Monday
McIlroy and Stoll got together after his split from Caroline Wozniacki in 2014 (pictured together in 2015 in Dubai)
The Northern Irishman and Stoll tied the knot in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The press conference lasted around 10 minutes - the shortest of any of the players - before McIlroy left to continue his preparations ahead of the tournament in Kentucky.
McIlroy is said to have filed the divorce documents on Monday, just three days before the start of the PGA Championship, the second major of the year, and fresh off his latest victory at the Wells Fargo Championship last weekend.
The documents, filed in Palm Beach County and obtained by DailyMail.com, stated their marriage was 'irretrievably broken'.
The couple, who share a three-year-old daughter Poppy Kennedy born in 2020, tied the knot in 2017 after a storybook meeting at the 2012 Ryder Cup.
The Northern Irishman, whose career earnings total nearly $87million, first met 35-year-old New York state native Erica during the tournament in Illinois, at which she was working for the PGA.
The four-time major champion and Stoll kept their relationship largely private before they married in a lavish ceremony in Ireland in 2017.
The couple exchanged vows at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in front of celebrity guests, including One Direction star Niall Horan and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, while music icons Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder performed at the event.
McIlroy was back out on the course on Wednesday for a final practice round at Valhalla
The Northern Irishman signed autographs for fans despite the turmoil in his personal life
McIlroy was spotted with his business manager, Sean O'Flaherty, on Wednesday at practice
McIlroy did flash a wide smile at one point in his Wednesday practice round, on the 12th hole
The petition for divorce states that the pair had signed a prenuptial agreement. However, the details of the arrangement have not been divulged.
McIlroy's attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, the same attorney who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010.
The filing also calls for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for Poppy.
The pair are believed to have lived in a 12,800-square-foot, £7.6million ($9.5million) mansion in the golfing capital of Jupiter, Florida - home to many professionals - after McIlroy sold his plush Palm Beach Gardens mansion in 2018 for £9.5million ($11.9million).
It has been reported the house once belonged to golfing legend Ernie Els.
Erica has regularly been spotted supporting her PGA husband at his tournaments, including the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome where she wowed in a stunning, strapless black gown on the Spanish Steps.
She was also on McIlroy's bag for the Masters Par-3 competition with their daughter Poppy in 2023. However, the McIlroy family were notably absent from the traditional, annual event last month.
The couple share a three-year-old daughter Poppy, who was born in 2020 (Erica and Poppy pictured in 2021)
Erica was on McIlroy's bag for the Masters Par-3 event with their daughter Poppy in 2023
Erica grew up in New York and graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology in 2008 with a marketing degree. She went on to work for the Professional Golf Association of America.
She was seen at The Players Championship in March when the PGA Tour shared a heartwarming clip of she and Poppy greeting McIlroy on the 18th green.
The golfer was seen scooping his daughter into his arms for a hug with Erica telling him they had been watching his birdie-birdie finish.
McIlroy answered a few questions about golf but refused to divulge info about his private life
McIlroy was the quickest of all golfers through the media center on Wednesday afternoon
And Erica was also seen supporting Rory throughout the second series of Netflix series Full Swing, which documented the 2023 PGA Tour.
Scenes showed her cooling Rory off during an outburst and giving him a kiss as Team Europe took the lead in last year's Ryder Cup.
McIlroy infamously split from tennis star Wozniacki in 2014 just months before they were due to wed.
The golfer is said to have dumped his then-fiancée in a three-minute phone call hours after telling her he loved her. Their split came in May 2014, before they were due to marry in November.
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