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 is being reported 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 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 fuelled with emotions for a struggling McIlroy who continues to eye the PGA Championship trophy despite the chaos in his familial life.

It is being expected that the major fight for the trophy at Valhall 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. However, this new revelation has cast some doubt in the eyes of concerned fans. While some fans continue to remain concerned of their favorite star’s current emotional state, others have opted to view this tragedy more optimistically. So what did the fans exactly have to say?

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

One disheartened fan wrote, “Hate it for the kid,” highlighting the effects this separation might have on the couple’s young daughter, who was born in 2022. The fan seemed to be concerned for McIlroy’s toddler and expressed how they “hate” how the circumstances have turned out for the family.

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.

Yet another optimistic user on X opined, “He’s going to complete the grand slam.” This fans’ opinion tracked back to McIlroy’s recent wins at the Zurich Classic and the Wells Fargo Championship, amidst the chaos that surrounds him. Tracking back to a more polished outlook on his Tour life, they hoped that the star will soon complete his Grand Slam dream. Currently, McIlroy is only one Masters win away from a career Grand Slam. It would take him at least another year if this fan’s predictions were to come true.

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. 

Yet another fan was quick to conclude, “Getting rid of all distractions. Valhalla victory confirmed.” While solely focused on the pro’s possible shot at another major, this fan termed the ongoing problems in the Northern Irishman’s life as mere distraction and opted to give him a ray of hope, in terms of his future at Valhalla.

It remains to be seen whether McIlroy will be able to channel his angst into his career as per fans’ presumptions, or not.