Rory McIlroy’s lovers from cheerleader teen sweetheart to tennis icon he ‘ran away with’
Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has been in the public eye for more than a decade and the reigning Masters champion’s love life has been no secret
Rory McIlroy has had plenty of issues with his love life(Image: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy has frequently made the news over the years, not only for his historic Masters victory and other golfing triumphs but also for his romantic liaisons. Currently, the Northern Irish golfer is wedded to Erica Stoll, with whom he shares a daughter, Poppy.
However, there was a period when a youthful McIlroy was navigating the highs and lows of romance. The 36-year-old’s first public relationship was with long-term girlfriend Holly Sweeney, who he was with for six years.
After clinching the US Open in 2011, McIlroy spoke about how his then-20-year-old sweetheart kept him grounded despite the fame. He said: “Holly and I have been together since I had just turned 16 and she was 14.
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“She knows me better than basically anyone else in this world does, apart from my parents. And to have someone like that with you is very grounding.”
He added: “She’s obviously my girlfriend but she’s also become my best friend over the past few years. I can say things to her that I wouldn’t be able to say to anyone else.”
The couple parted ways in 2011 and McIlroy entered another relationship that same year with tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki. This left the former cheerleader heartbroken, as she told the Irish Sunday Mirror she felt betrayed after their split. She said: “I never thought he would do this to me.
“I always suspected he had a thing for her. He’s always been a big fan of tennis. When he was watching the women’s games he always said he fancied her but I didn’t take it that seriously – little did I know.
“It was Rory that ran away with Caroline – not the other way around – so I guess I blame Rory, or both of them if I’m totally honest. … Obviously we’d separated before, but that wasn’t for any other reason than that we thought we were too young to be in such a serious relationship. This was a different thing altogether.”
McIlroy spent a couple of years with Wozniacki, proposing in 2013 but ending the engagement months later. Explaining the break-up in a May 2014 statement, he said: “The problem is mine.
“The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realize that I wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we’ve had.”
Speaking about the “difficult time” at the BMW PGA Championship, McIlroy added: “It is quite a difficult time for Caroline and myself, and the statement really said it all this morning.
“It was mutual, and we both thought it was the best for us, the best for both of us. Time to move on, and I’ve said all that I need to say.”
McIlroy subsequently began dating his current partner Erica Stoll, whom he first met at the Ryder Cup in 2012 – when he was still with Wozniacki. The couple didn’t get together until after his break up with the tennis star in 2014 and initially, it was smooth sailing.
Discussing his current relationship in 2015, McIlroy said: “I am very happy in my love life. … The past six or seven months have been really nice. That part of my life is going great.”
The couple got engaged in December 2015 and tied the knot in 2017, welcoming their daughter, Poppy, three years later. However, their relationship hit a rough patch in May 2024 when McIlroy filed for divorce after seven years of marriage.
This filing was dismissed just a month later and they began to rebuild their relationship. The Masters champion said: “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
During his brief separation from Stoll, McIlroy was rumoured to be dating CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis. Other names romantically linked to the golfer included Meghan Markle after he formed a friendship with the current Royal in 2014.
Nowadays, McIlroy is supported by Stoll and his young daughter as he aims to secure back-to-back green jackets at Augusta National.
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