RORY’S "ROCK": MCILROY DELIVERS EMOTIONAL TRIBUTE TO WIFE ERICA AFTER DP WORLD WIN
Love and Birdies: Discover how Erica Stoll helped Rory McIlroy win the Masters and why their marriage is stronger than ever in 2026.
Rory McIlroy couldn’t stop smiling as he posed with his wife, Erica Stoll, after winning the 2025 DP World Tour Championship. Honestly, it’s been a wild year for him, and he doesn’t hesitate to give Erica a lot of the credit. When he picked up the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in December 2025, he called Erica and their daughter Poppy his rock.
“My wife, Erica, and my daughter, Poppy. "They're what holds me together; they’re my rock,” McIlroy said after the win. “They couldn’t be here tonight; they’re back in America, but I can’t wait to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate. I love you.”
People have seen the couple go through their fair share of ups and downs, but right now, heading into 2026, Rory and Erica look stronger than ever.
So, what’s life really like for these two?
Turns out, McIlroy gives Erica a lot of credit for helping him unwind. And, believe it or not, “Bridgerton” played a small part in his Master's win. Before he put on that famous green jacket in 2025, Erica got him hooked on the show.
“I’ve gotten into 'Bridgerton'. I didn’t think I would,” McIlroy admitted in April 2025. “I was very against watching it, but Erica convinced me. So we’re on a bit of a ‘Bridgerton’ kick this week, yeah.”
Things haven’t always been smooth. In May 2024, news broke that they’d filed for divorce. But just a month later, McIlroy announced that they’d worked things out and called off the split. Since then, Erica’s been right there in his corner, showing up at big tournaments, including his Masters win.
Not everything has been picture-perfect, though. The 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage got ugly for the family. Some fans crossed the line, and a video even showed someone throwing a beer that hit Erica during the tournament. Before all that drama, Rory actually took a moment to praise the United States and talk about how much he values both his Irish and American ties.
“Everyone wanted to make it in America,” McIlroy said in September 2025. “It’s the land of opportunity. I still believe it’s the best country in the world, and if you come here and work hard, you can be or do whatever you want.
“I’m unbelievably grateful and lucky I got to come to America early on. I think success is celebrated here. There’s a strong work ethic. And yeah, I live here. My wife is American. My daughter is American,” he went on.
“I have a lot of affinity towards this country, and I think everyone who lives here should feel that way because it really is a wonderful place.”
DEXTER LAWRENCE TRADE REQUEST LOOMS OVER GIANTS' PREPARATIONS FOR PITTSBURGH NFL DRAFT
Dexter Lawrence wants out! Discover why the Giants are considering a trade before the NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
The New York Giants might have no choice but to trade Dexter Lawrence before the NFL Draft. Negotiations on a new contract with the star defender have hit a wall, and Lawrence already asked for a trade earlier this month. He's skipped the team’s first offseason practices under new head coach John Harbaugh, which hasn’t helped matters.
At this point, the Giants have been talking with several teams about a possible deal for Lawrence. With the draft coming up in Pittsburgh next week, the pressure is on. They need picks, and right now they only hold two selections in the top 100. Harbaugh’s trying to breathe new life into the roster, but he needs more draft capital to do it.
News of the stalled negotiations came just hours after GM Joe Schoen sounded pretty upbeat, saying talks had been "productive". He explained that he, Harbaugh, and senior VP Dawn Aponte were all in regular contact with Lawrence’s reps, looking for some kind of resolution. Schoen insisted they want Dexter to stay, but he admitted it’s out of their hands now. They’ll just have to see what happens.
Lawrence, 28, signed a four-year, $90 million extension last year. Since then, defensive contracts have exploded, so his deal has dropped to just 11th among league defenders. On top of that, the team’s shaken up its roster, letting go of many Lawrence’s close teammates like Saquon Barkley.
Lawrence has been with the Giants since they drafted him 17th overall in 2019. He’s played his whole seven-year career in New York, earning three trips to the Pro Bowl and two second-team All-Pro honours. His career stats include 30.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and an interception. But last year wasn’t great; he only managed half a sack, eight QB hits, and a pass rush win rate of 8.3 per cent for a team that finished 4-13. It’s hard to tell if he’ll stay with the Giants much longer.
RORY MCILROY TARGETS SEVENTH MAJOR AT ARONIMINK FOLLOWING EMOTIONAL MASTERS DEFENSE
No long break for Rory McIlroy! After his 6th major win, McIlroy eyes the PGA Championship at Aronimink this May.
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Rory McIlroy isn’t following the same script after this Masters win. When reporters asked if he’d take another long break, as he did in 2025, Rory had a different plan in mind.
He’s not disappearing for months this time. Instead, he’s taking a couple of weeks off before jumping back into PGA Tour action. The next big event on the calendar is the PGA Championship, starting May 14 at Aronimink Golf Club in Pennsylvania, but it sounds like Rory wants to get some tournament play before then.
He talked about his mindset shift after winning again at Augusta. “My schedule’s going to be different this year,” he said on April 13. “Last year, I thought winning the Grand Slam would be the destination. But actually, it’s just part of the ride. Now that I’ve won my sixth major, I feel great about my game and my body.
“I waited ages to win the Masters, and then I won two in a row. I definitely want to enjoy this. I’ll take a couple weeks off, but I don’t think I’ll hit that motivation lull I felt last year after the win.”
So, what comes next for Rory? He’s skipping the RBC Heritage this week, and his appearance at the Zurich Classic isn’t confirmed either.
Then, there’s Donald Trump, who might’ve let the cat out of the bag. After congratulating Rory on social media, Trump said he was looking forward to watching him at Doral during the Cadillac Championship on April 30. That’s not an official confirmation, but it’s a pretty solid clue that Rory’s next start could be there.
Now that he’s up to six majors and finally has back-to-back Masters titles, Rory’s thinking ahead. The next big stop? The PGA Championship, where he’ll chase number seven. But he’s not feeling satisfied just yet.
“I don’t want to put a hard number on it, but this is just part of the journey,” he said. “I’ve still got things I want to accomplish even as I make sure I enjoy the moment, too.”
