Rory McIlroy’s divorce from Erica Stoll shines a light on ‘hard life’ of Golf WAGs with stars surrounded by ‘hangers on and beautiful women’
The reality of life as a golf WAG has been laid bare following Rory McIlroy’s divorce from Erica Stoll.
McIlroy, 35, filed to end his marriage to Stoll, 36, on May 13. It came seven years after they tied the knot and just a few days before the PGA Championship.
It was recently claimed that the couple reached a ‘breaking point’ after Stoll threw herself into motherhood while McIlroy was away playing on tour.
“One point of contention in Rory’s marriage to Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” an insider told Us Weekly. “Rory was a difficult person to marry.”
Now another insider has revealed the challenges each player’s partner faces on the tour.
Rory McIlroy recently filed for divorce from Erica Stoll – the couple first tied the knot in 2017
McIlroy with the ‘Mac Pack’, who have rallied around the Northern Irishman in recent times
“It’s a hard life being a golfer’s wife,” they said People. ‘They are always away at tournaments and practices, there has to be a lot of trust.’
According to the insider, players are often flanked by ‘followers’ and ‘beautiful women’ while playing tournaments.
“You have to go on tour with them and go with them, or you just have to have faith in them. You can’t expect them to be at home and help with the children.’
McIlroy met Stoll in 2012, when she was working as a transportation officer for PGA of America. The Northern Irishman was in a relationship with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki at the time. They got engaged in 2013, but McIlroy ended the relationship shortly afterwards.
McIlroy and Stoll at the Spanish Steps in Rome ahead of the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy
Since filing for divorce, rumors have swirled about McIlroy’s relationship with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, as they both left behind their wedding rings.
Meanwhile, another source close to the tour claims McIlroy is ‘super focused on golf’ as he tries to end his decade-long wait for a new major.
“Additionally, he has spent the last two years putting his blood, sweat and tears into defending the PGA against LIV golf, and it was basically for nothing,” they told People.
“He’s trying to find himself, focus and start winning again,” the source said.
McIlroy and Stoll share a three-year-old daughter Poppy Kennedy, born in 2020.