Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, on the eve of the PGA Championship.

According to court records in Palm Beach County, Florida, the couple, who met during the Ryder Cup in 2012, are now heading their separate ways.

They began dating two years later and married in 2017 before going on to have one daughter, Poppy, in September 2020.

The filing was first made on Monday and a statement from McIlroy’s manager, Sean O’Flaherty, confirmed the split.

He said: “Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed.

“They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.”

He said there would be no further comment.

Professional golfer Georgia Ball reacts to viral video after film caught man telling her how to swing

Tiger Woods ‘much better’ after 15-time major champion withdraws from tournament

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson to face testosterone testing

TMZ first reported on the filing and McIlroy’s attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, the same attorney who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010.

The news came as McIlroy arrived at the Valhalla Golf Club, which plays host to the PGA Championship, on Tuesday.

Read more from Sky News:
Ant McPartlin ‘a mess’ as he welcomes first child
Eurovision responds to complaints from contestants
Baby Reindeer star’s fresh plea to fans

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

McIlroy has gone a decade since winning a major, the last being the PGA Championship in 2014 and he has a pre-tournament news conference scheduled for Wednesday.

The golf star and Stoll met when she worked for the PGA of America in 2012 during the Ryder Cup at Medinah in the Chicago suburbs, where McIlroy almost missed a match because he forgot what time zone he was in.

Stoll arranged for a police escort to Medinah, and McIlroy barely arrived in time. But, he won his match over Keegan Bradley as Europe rallied to win.

McIlroy was dating tennis star Caroline Wozniacki at the time, who he got engaged to just over a year later.

But then McIlroy abruptly broke it off over the phone and he and Stoll began dating later that year. They were engaged in 2015.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The divorce filing comes amid chaos in golf created by the launch of Saudi-funded LIV Golf.

The Northern Irishman has been a central figure over the last two years, harshly criticizing LIV and then changing his views and pushing for some form of reunification.

Related posts:

Boris Johnson raises Harry Dunn case with Joe Biden ahead of G7 summit Sir Richard Branson launches space flight as Virgin Galactic takes off Turpin sisters, held captive alongside 11 siblings by their parents, speak out about ‘hell’ they endured Police move in on truckers protesting at US-Canada border after injunction issued Standoff between police and truckers protesting at US-Canada border continues after more than seven hours ‘I wish they understood the trauma’: Rape survivor considered suicide after discovering pregnancy Police officer tells court he saw hammer attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Hollywood actors announce strike as union and studios fail to reach deal Fire kills ‘nearly all’ animals at wildlife centre NFL star Tom Brady stuns Birmingham fans by meeting them in pub Mick Fleetwood loses restaurant in Hawaii wildfires – and says situation on the ground is ‘catastrophic’ NFL star’s father charged with driving while intoxicated – days before the Super Bowl