Rory McIlroy kept golf fans on the edge of their seats during this year’s Masters, leading to the famed golfer finally hoisting the trophy that has alluded him during his professional career.
After ending regulation play, McIlroy, 35, found himself tied with fellow golfer Justin Rose. McIlroy missed a putt to save par, dropping him to -11, the same as Rose. As a result, the pair squared off in a sudden death playoff hole.
McIlroy gave his daughter, Poppy, and his wife, Erica Stoll, a kiss after the dramatic end of regulation play and before going head-to-head against Rose.
The golfer won it all after four rounds of regular play and the first sudden death playoff hole. He celebrated with Poppy on the green, wrapping his daughter up in a giant hug. He also, once again, embraced his wife as he wept.
The last sudden death playoff at the Masters occurred in 2017, between Sergio Garcia and Rose. Rose walked away empty-handed then, too.
McIlroy’s path toward his win was marked by a disastrous performance during the tournament’s opening round. The golfer, 35, had two double bogeys in his final four holes at Augusta National Golf Club on Thursday, April 10, which left him to finish with an even-par 72 and seven shots off the lead.
He also refused to speak to the media after the performance, something that prompted negative responses from fans on social media. His decision came only days after he had defended a professional golfer’s right to not speak to the press.
“Every other athlete, whether it be in the NBA, NFL, they’re obligated to speak to you guys after a game. We’re not,” McIlroy told reporters during a pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday, April 8. “Whether that’s something that the PGA Tour looks to in terms of putting that into their rules and regulations, but as long as that’s not the case and we have that option to opt out whenever we want, expect guys to do that from time to time.”
The refusal was part of a pattern of behavior from McIlroy. He also refused to speak to reporters after the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open last June.
The Irish golfer is also navigating the buzz that comes with participating in reality TV. His marriage is a featured topic in the third season of Netflix’s Full Swing. “I’ve struggled with trying to be the best golfer, the best husband, the best dad,” McIlroy, 35, confessed in the season 3 trailer for the hit docuseries.
McIlroy and Stoll filed for divorce in May 2024 after seven years of marriage. According to court documents obtained by Us, McIlroy said the marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
“Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed,” a spokeswoman for McIlroy told the Irish Star that same month. “They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will not be making any further comment.”
Though the golf community was stunned by the news, not everyone was surprised. “A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” a source exclusively told Us in May 2024, claiming, “Rory was a hard person to be married to.”
In June 2024, McIlroy filed a notice of voluntary dismissal, which negated the divorce proceedings. “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together,” McIlroy told The Guardian in a statement at the time. “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
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