Amid a hot career streak, Rory McIlroy has once again drawn attention to himself. But this time, the matter seems to be more personal than professional. With only days remaining for a hot start at Valhalla Golf Club (a venue where the Northern Irishman claimed victory the last time it hosted the PGA Championship), a breaking piece of news regarding the 35-year-old’s marital life has left many mouths agape.

It has come to light that the Northern Irishman and his wife, Eric Stoll, have filed for divorce after almost 7 years of marriage. The duo tied the knot in 2017 at Ashford Castle and share a 4-year-old daughter, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy. It has been reported that the court documents for the couple’s divorce have been filed in Florida, where McIlroy resides and owns a massive 12,800-square-foot mansion.

But why did the PGA Tour star and his wife come to this end? Well, currently, the reason for said split remains unknown. Neither of the two parties has addressed the ‘why’ of this intimate affair. After almost a decade of the two sharing a romantic relationship, surely this week will be fueled with emotions for a struggling McIlroy who continues to eye the PGA Championship trophy despite the chaos in his personal life. He was eagerly looking to end his decade-old major drought, but this might throw him off his game.

As per the Irish Independent, McIlroy’s team has confirmed that the divorce has been filed. However, they emphasized that the couple desires that this difficult time be treated as respectfully and amicably as possible. While they chose to make no further comments, the family emphasized the need to keep things as personal as possible for the sake of their daughter. They requested everyone “to surround their daughter with love and privacy.” The former couple has always maintained their privacy, so it is not shocking that they are opting to do so during such a difficult time.

The couple got married in a lavish ceremony that was attended by nearly 200 guests. The couple met during the 2012 Ryder Cup when she helped him reach the greens on time after he missed his alarm. At that time, McIlroy was dating Caroline Wozniacki, and they remained friends. They started dating after Wozniacki and McIlroy broke off their engagement. Stoll has always been an ardent supporter of the golfer and has often been spotted on the course, cheering for him. This year, at ANGC, she was notably missing from the sidelines. On Mother’s Day, the Northern Irishman shared a wish for his mother, but not for his daughter’s mother.

It is expected that the major fight for the trophy at Valhalla GC will be between Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler. McIlroy has won twice in his last two starts and seems to be ready to claim his fifth major win. It is so ironic that on one hand, Scheffler has recently become a father to little Bennett, and McIlroy’s loving family is sadly breaking up! This new revelation has cast some doubt in the eyes of concerned fans. While some fans continue to remain concerned about their favorite star’s current emotional state, others have opted to view this tragedy more optimistically.

Fans react to the shocking news of Rory McIlroy’s rumored divorce

The disheartened fans wrote, “Hate it for the kid,” “Sad for the family. Good luck to all parties. Hate it for the child.” The comments highlighted the effects this separation might have on the couple’s young daughter, who was born on August 31, 2020, in Jupiter, Florida. The fan seemed to be concerned for McIlroy’s toddler and expressed how they “hate” how the circumstances have turned out for the family.

One compassionate fan commented, “I’m sorry to hear that.” Most of the golf world was sad to hear the news, and this comment just summed up the feeling.

Another fan was quick to point out, “Might start winning majors now.” Their evaluation was that this setback in his personal life might give McIlroy the perceptive tools to channel his agony into the professional realm and transition from the pro who almost always wins, to a pro who always wins. In 2014, when McIlroy split up from Wozniacki, he went on a winning rampage. He won the PGA Championship and then won The Open. This divorce might just prove to be a blessing in disguise for him, given his experience.

Yet another optimistic user on X opined, “He’s going to complete the grand slam.” This fan’s opinion tracked back to McIlroy’s recent wins at the Zurich Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship, amidst the chaos that surrounded him. Tracking back to a more polished outlook on his Tour life, they hoped that the star would soon complete his Grand Slam dream by winning the 2025 Masters. He might channel his pain to perform exceptionally well on the greens, just like he did in 2014.

A fan was quick to conclude, “So that’s why he played so well this weekend?” They quickly assumed that his increased level of perfection on the greens tracked back to the hurdles in his personal life, and how the aforesaid has been acting as a boost to his career. The fan was not wrong to hold the opinion as they might have witnessed what happened a decade ago when he broke up with the tennis star.

A fan quickly wittily commented, “Getting rid of all distractions. Valhalla victory confirmed.”  According to them, a win at Valhalla was sealed following this tragic news since he had no more distractions in his life.

It remains to be seen whether McIlroy will be able to channel his angst into his career as per fans’ presumptions, or not. What do you think will happen at Valhalla this weekend? Stay tuned to find out!