Key Takeaways
- Erica Stoll is from Irondequoit, New York, and worked at the PGA before meeting Rory McIlroy.
- They met at the 2012 Ryder Cup, where Erica helped Rory make his tee time.
- They married in 2017 and have a daughter, Poppy, born in 2020.
- Despite a brief divorce filing in 2024, they decided to work things out and stay together.
When it comes to the world of professional golf, Rory McIlroy is a name most fans know well. But behind the scenes, there’s someone who has supported him through the ups and downs Erica Stoll. While she may not be a public figure, Erica’s background is interesting and worth exploring. Let’s take a closer look at who she is, where she comes from, and how her story became part of Rory McIlroy’s life.
Table of Contents
Early Life in New York
Erica Stoll was born in 1987 in Irondequoit, a town near Rochester, New York. She grew up in a quiet suburban area and had a fairly normal upbringing. She attended Irondequoit High School and graduated in 2003. Erica later went to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), where she studied marketing. She graduated from RIT in 2008 with her degree in hand and a bright future ahead.
She also has a sister named Natalie Stoll. While not much is publicly known about her family life, it’s clear Erica comes from a grounded, supportive background.
Career with the PGA
After finishing college, Erica Stoll began working in the world of professional golf but not as a golfer. She joined the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (PGA), where she worked in several important roles. These included being an office manager and later managing volunteer operations for big golf events.
One of her more specific roles was as a transport official, which meant helping coordinate player logistics during tournaments. Erica wasn’t someone who wanted to be in the spotlight. Instead, she worked behind the scenes to help golf events run smoothly. And it was through this job that her life would change in a big way.
How Erica Met Rory McIlroy
Erica met Rory McIlroy during the 2012 Ryder Cup held at Medinah Country Club in Illinois. At that time, Rory was one of the top golfers in the world, and Erica was working with the PGA. The story of how they met is actually pretty famous in the golf world.
Rory had confused the time zone and was running late for his tee time on the final day of the tournament. If he didn’t show up, it would’ve been a disaster for the European team. Erica Stoll realized what was happening and quickly acted. She arranged a police escort to get Rory to the course just in time.
Thanks to her, Rory made it, and the team went on to win the Ryder Cup. That moment not only saved a match but also sparked a friendship between the two.
From Friends to Life Partners
At first, Erica and Rory were just friends. Rory was in the spotlight and had recently ended his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014. Around that time, his connection with Erica began to grow into something more. The pair kept things quiet for a while, preferring to stay out of the media’s attention.
Unlike some celebrity couples, they didn’t share much about their relationship on social media or in interviews. Erica wasn’t looking for fame. Instead, she supported Rory in a quieter way, traveling with him to tournaments and staying mostly out of public view.
A Beautiful Engagement and Wedding
In December 2015, Rory proposed to Erica while the couple was in Paris, one of the most romantic cities in the world. She said yes, and the couple began planning their wedding.
They got married on April 22, 2017, at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. The wedding was a private and elegant event with close friends, family, and a few celebrities in attendance. It was a joyful moment in both their lives and marked the beginning of their married journey together.
Life Away from the Spotlight
Since getting married, Erica Stoll has remained mostly private. She doesn’t use public social media accounts and rarely gives interviews. She prefers a low-key lifestyle, choosing to focus on family and supporting Rory without chasing attention.
In 2020, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born on August 31, 2020. Rory announced the happy news a few days later and expressed how grateful they were for the safe arrival of their baby girl.
Being a mom and a supportive partner has become Erica’s main focus, and she continues to stand by Rory through his demanding golf schedule.
A Bump in the Road
In May 2024, fans were shocked when news came out that Rory had filed for divorce from Erica. According to reports, he stated that their marriage was “irretrievably broken.” It was a difficult and private moment for the couple.
But surprisingly, just a month later, Rory and Erica decided to give their relationship another try. They called off the divorce and chose to work on their marriage instead. Rory later opened up about how hard it is to balance a career in the spotlight with personal life and admitted that sometimes, relationships need attention and effort to stay strong.
Their decision to stay together showed how much they value each other and their family.
Who Is Erica Stoll Today?
Today, Erica Stoll continues to live a quiet life away from media headlines. While Rory is often on the golf course or in interviews, Erica remains in the background, focused on raising their daughter and maintaining a sense of normalcy.
She’s known for being calm, thoughtful, and loyal—traits that seem to ground Rory and give him the support he needs, both on and off the course. Despite being married to one of golf’s biggest stars, she never tried to be in the spotlight herself, and that’s something many admire about her.
Final Thoughts
So, who is Erica Stoll? She’s much more than just Rory McIlroy’s wife. She’s a woman with her own career, her own story, and a quiet strength that has helped her stand tall alongside one of the world’s top athletes. From growing up in New York to working with the PGA and building a life with Rory, her journey has been unique and inspiring.
While she may not make headlines often, Erica Stoll plays an important role in Rory McIlroy’s life and she continues to do so with grace, privacy, and heart.
