Rory McIlroy’s ill-fated 2014 flirtation with Meghan Markle revealed
Inside Rory McIlroy’s relationship past as he divorces Erica Stoll: From dumping Caroline Wozniacki via PHONE to ‘cozy’ ice bucket flirtation with MEGHAN MARKLE, golf pro’s wild romantic history revealed
While he’s best known for his impressive golf career, Rory McIlroy has also made headlines for his tumultuous love life over the years.
From reportedly flirting with Meghan Markle and partying with college students to claims that he dumped his fiancée in a three-minute phone call (right after they had sent out invitations to their wedding), Rory has faced a slew of scandals when it comes to his relationships.
After years of explosive breakups, messy splits, and rumored trysts, however, it appeared as though Rory had finally found his happily ever after when he walked down the aisle with Erica Stoll in 2017.
But now, it has been revealed that the golfer, 35, has filed for divorce from Erica after seven years of marriage – just days before the start of the PGA Championship.
Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll (seen together with their daughter last year). Amid the news, take a look back at his extremely rocky dating history
Long before he kicked off his romance with Erica, rumors swirled that Rory was dating Meghan Markle – after they were caught getting flirty in a video shared in 2014
Rory filed for divorce in Florida on Monday, according to TMZ, seven years after they walked down the aisle and four years after they welcomed their daughter, Poppy.
Amid the shocking news, FEMAIL has rounded up everything you need to know about Rory’s extremely rocky dating history.
Long before he kicked off his romance with Erica, rumors swirled that Rory was dating Suits actress Meghan – after they were caught hanging out in a video shared to her social media accounts in 2014.
The two also reportedly enjoyed a late-night rendezvous together, enjoying a drink at a swanky New York City hotel before grabbing dinner at acclaimed celebrity hotspot Cipriani.
The speculated pairing came fresh off Rory’s split from tennis star Caroline Wozniacki – who he started dating in 2011 and was with for three years before he called it quits while they were in the middle of planning their wedding.
Before that, he was linked to one of his childhood friends, named Holly Sweeney, for years, but after they went their separate ways, she accused him of leaving her for Caroline.
Around the same time that he was seen hanging out with Meghan, Rory also made headlines for attending a college party, during which he was seen draping his arm around a young blonde.
As Rory splits from his wife of seven years, take a look back at all of his past romances – from his rumored relationship with the Duchess of Sussex to his other shocking breakups.
Childhood sweetheart: Rory started dating Holly Sweeney as a teenager – but she later accused him of leaving her for Caroline Wozniacki
Rory’s first romance began when he was a teenager. He dated one of his childhood friends, named Holly Sweeney, from 2003 until 2011. They’re seen in 2010
Rory’s first romance began when he was a teenager – and just as he was starting his wildly successful golf career.
He began dating his childhood friend Holly when he was only 16 and she was 14 – right after he became the youngest-ever winner of the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.
‘She knows me better than basically anyone else in this world does, apart from my parents. And someone like that with you is very grounding,’ he gushed of Holly in the 2011 documentary Rory’s Major Breakthrough.
They were together for years and she was by his side almost every step of the way as he became a massive star, but they suddenly split in 2011 – soon after he met Caroline.
In a statement at the time, Rory said that the split was ‘amicable,’ but afterwards, Holly alleged that the sports star had left her for Danish tennis pro Caroline.
She told Irish Sunday Mirror, ‘Rory ran away with Caroline. I never thought he would do this to me.
‘It killed me – I went away to Dubai as soon as we split up so I didn’t have to look or think about it.
‘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.’
She claimed they had a brief separation before that, but had gotten back together, insisting that things seemed to be ‘going really well’ before he dumped her.
‘We hadn’t been back together very long but I thought things were going really well,’ she continued.
‘But then to he sat down and told [me]… that was just a shock I was just upset that he hadn’t learned anything from the separation before. I felt like all the effort I put in to make the relationship work was completely wasted.’
Holly eventually moved on with hockey player Jeff Mason, and after she announced she was pregnant, Rory sent her his well wishes.
‘I’m happy for her,’ he said. ‘It’s great to see she’s happy.’
Shocking split: Rory reportedly dumped Caroline during a three-minute phone call – just after they had sent out the invitations to their wedding
They split months later – just after they had sent out the invitations to their wedding – and it was reported that Rory broke up with Caroline during a three-minute phone call
Soon after his split from Holly, Rory started dating Caroline. It’s been said that the two stars met at a boxing match in Germany after they were seated next to one another, and immediately hit it off.
Rory and Caroline were together for three years before he got down on one knee and popped the question on New Year’s Eve in 2013.
But things came to a screeching halt months later – just after they had sent out the invitations to their wedding.
Rory announced the split in May 2014, claiming ‘it was mutual’ and that they ‘both thought it was the best.’
Afterwards, however, reports emerged that said he broke up with Caroline during a three-minute phone call.
He later confessed that it was his decision to end the romance, stating, ‘There is no right way to end a relationship that has been so important to two people.
‘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. I will not be saying anything more about our relationship in any setting.’
In 2017, he hinted that their popularity played into the split. He admitted, ‘I thought at the time that being with someone that was in a similar position to you was the obvious answer.
‘But it isn’t, because you can never get away from it. You can never detach yourself and try to come back to the real world.’
Rumored fling with Meghan Markle: Rory was seen getting flirty with the Suits star in a video shared to her social media in 2014 – long before she met Prince Harry
Rory and Meghan sparked romance rumors in August 2014, after the two were seen getting flirty in a video shared to her social media account.
At the time, the golfer helped the actress participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge – a viral social media trend designed to raise awareness for ALS.
In the clip, Rory stood behind Meghan and poured a cooler full of ice onto her head before she erupted in laughter.
It was reported that they got a drink at the Fitzpatrick Hotel in New York together afterwards, followed by a dinner at Cipriani.
Former BBC journalist and renowned royal expert Tom Bower later wrote in his 2022 book Revenge: Meghan, Harry, And The War Between The Windsors that she and Rory met for the first time that day after he ‘unexpectedly’ nominated her for the ice bucket challenge.
‘She accepted the challenge, on condition that Rory came to her friend’s apartment and personally poured the bucket over her on the balcony,’ he wrote.
Meghan, who was reportedly dating chef Cory Vitiello at the time, later gushed over Rory on her blog, The Tig.
‘Ah yes. Rory McIlroy. THE Rory McIlroy. Whispered (and shouted) to be the foremost golfer in the world, loved by Tiger, respected by Palmer, and dumper of frigid water on to my lone head for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. That Rory McIlroy,’ she wrote.
‘He is a force who has the propensity to actually work hard and play hard – relishing intense practices to substantiate his title, embracing nights of sipping Opus One (his bold and impressive choice of wine) and indulging in group dinners at Cipriani – for the balance, of course.
‘And yet, beyond his work/play ethic, the most endearing quality of this man is his character – as real and honest as they come, appreciating a simple smile, never shunning a fan photo, enjoying a plate of pasta with veal ragu, and expressing a love for his parents that is rarely seen in men his age. Or at any age, to be honest.
‘He is not just the real deal… he is real. And perhaps that is what makes him even more cherished.’
In October 2014, the two were also spotted dining at Fade Street Social in Dublin, where an onlooker said she looked ‘smitten.’
Afterwards, Tom claimed in the tome that Meghan’s boyfriend ‘challenged’ her and asked, ‘Had there been an affair?’ but that she insisted they were just friends and ‘he believed her.’
Tom also alleged that Meghan was ‘keen to use their close relationship to promote herself.’
Partying with college students: Rory was photographed getting cozy and draping his arm around a mystery blonde while attending a university bash in 2014
Rory, then 25, was seen getting cozy with a mystery blonde in October 2014 while attending a college party in St. Andrews.
A snap showed the golfer with his arm draped around the woman, as the two grinned towards the camera.
‘There were students, top golfers, caddies [at the party] – all having a great time,’ an onlooker told the Daily Record afterwards.
‘People were smoking rolled-up cigarettes while drinking their champagne and Rory seemed quite relaxed around it all.
‘It seemed pretty incredible one of the world’s most famous sportsmen would be quite happy to be photographed with a bunch of students at a party.
‘But he didn’t appear to be concerned at all and immediately after the picture was taken he chatted to the girl for a while.’
In addition, the Irish Mirror reported that Meghan and Rory were ‘never more than friends.’
Finding the one… or so he thought: Rory married Erica Stoll in 2017 and they welcomed their daughter in 2020 – but he has now filed for divorce
Rory and Erica met in 2012 and were friends for quite some time before things turned romantic. They got engaged in 2015, and wed two years later. They’re seen in 2015
Rory and Erica met in 2012 and were friends for quite some time before things turned romantic.
‘The thing I love about it is that we were friends before anything romantic happened,’ Rory previously told Irish Independent about his and Erica’s relationship.
‘We met when she was working for the PGA of America and renting a condo in Palm Beach, and I found it refreshing being with someone who was living a normal life rather than, “Oh! My jet is 30 minutes late.”
‘I feel in such a good place now. I don’t feel Erica wants to change me in any way. I can be myself around her – there’s no bulls**t, no acting, no show.’
They got engaged in 2015, and officially became husband and wife two years later during a star-studded wedding held at the Ashford Castle in Ireland.
Celebrity attendees at the nuptials included Jamie Dornan, Ed Sheeran, Niall Horan, Stevie Wonder, and Chris Martin.
In September 2020, they welcomed their baby girl, named Poppy, who he called the ‘absolute love of their lives.’
