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The Masters Rory McIlroy NIR with his Masters Trophy and green jacket and family Erica and poppy after the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 13/04/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie rAll photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xFranxCaffreyx *EDI*
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The Masters Rory McIlroy NIR with his Masters Trophy and green jacket and family Erica and poppy after the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, USA. 13/04/2025. Picture Fran Caffrey / Golffile.ie rAll photo usage must carry mandatory copyright credit Golffile Fran Caffrey Copyright: xFranxCaffreyx *EDI*
After he won the 2025 Masters Tournament and walked off the 18th hole, Rory McIlroy first embraced his wife, Erica Stoll, and daughter, Poppy McIlroy. They are always present when the Irishman is about to win a title or achieve something on the golf course.
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McIlroy and Stoll first met during the 2012 Ryder Cup in Medinah, Illinois. Back then, Erica used to work for the PGA of America as a transport official. Interestingly, the Grand Slam champion was dating Caroline Wozniacki back then. But Stoll and McIlroy remained friends.
It wasn’t until 2014 that they started dating. After coming out of a relationship with the tennis star, McIlroy found dating Stoll refreshing. Mostly because she led a normal life rather than that of an athlete. Their relationship grew over the next few years, and on April 22, 2017, Stoll and McIlroy got married.
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Stoll would often appear on the course when McIlroy was playing. Even in the toughest of venues, she doesn’t shy away from coming to cheer for her partner. She was there for McIlroy when he and Team Europe won the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage. Even though her husband didn’t want her there because of the rowdy crowd of New York. And as they had expected, someone from the crowd threw beer at her. But as McIlroy admitted, Stoll is a “very strong woman,” and she didn’t let that faze her.
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While they have had their ups and downs, Stoll and McIlroy have always tried to stand by each other. And there is one reason that keeps them motivated to keep doing so.
Rory McIlroy’s biggest treasure, his daughter, Poppy
Both Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll absolutely love their daughter. The Irishman never forgets to mention Poppy McIlroy in his victory speech every time he achieves something big. Stoll also often brings her along to safer venues where they won’t be heckled.
Poppy was born three years after their marriage, on August 31, 2020. And Stoll has been bringing her along on the golf course from a very young age. In fact, the five-year-old has also joined her father for the Par-3 Contest on the Wednesday of the Masters Tournament in recent years.
Last year, she scored an incredible putt on one of the holes with McIlroy and Shane Lowry looking on. It was so good that fans claimed that she’s better on the green than her father. After that exciting experience, Poppy asked McIlroy to bring her putter along for 2026. So she doesn’t have to use his putter to play on the green. And her game has only gotten better.
She is certainly following her father’s footsteps, and McIlroy is incredibly proud of it. With him winning consecutive Masters Tournaments in 2025 and 2026, he was delighted to have his family behind the ropes once again.
