Rory McIlroy has revealed the heartwarming reason why he travelled to London with his family after winning his first major in 11 years to complete a career grand slam in front of his wife Erica and daughter Poppy.
McIlroy, having previously missed chances to pull ahead, held his nerve on a tense final round to defeat Justin Rose in a sudden death play-off at the Masters, as his loyal wife Erica Stoll looked on with their daughter Poppy.
After his winning birdie putt dropped to seal the victory over his Ryder Cup teammate, McIlroy collapsed to the ground with his head in hands as his shoulders wracked with sobs.
READ: Rory McIlroy Spotted in Florida With Wife Erica After Masters Celebration Trip to Ireland
Rising to his feet, he clung to caddie, Harry Diamond, who has been by McIlroy’s side through thick and thin for over seven years. The pair shared a tearful moment before the 2025 Masters winner acknowledged his dueling partner Rose and rushed off the putting surface to where Stoll and four-year-old Poppy were waiting.
McIlroy went straight to his wife of eight years, who wowed in an all-white ensemble and dramatic wide-brimmed hat, and pulled her into an embrace.
And things continue to look up for the Northern Irishman on the back of his golf struggles and divorce drama – as he explained he headed back to England before making his way to Belfast.
‘It’s been an amazing few days after and to be able to reflect on it and everything that happened and the magnitude of everything,’ McIlory said in New Orleans on Wednesday. ‘The big thing for me is how the whole journey is how it resonated with people.
‘It’s not every day you get to fulfil one of your life long goals and dreams.
‘We first went to London with Erica and Poppy to see our new home that we’re building and we made the trip over to Belfast to see a few other people that are important to us.’
McIlroy and Stoll, live in Jupiter Island, Florida. They also own homes in California and in New York City, as well as well as a 200-acre estate in Ireland.
McIlroy and Stoll put on a united front all week at Augusta National – almost one year on from the beginning of their bombshell divorce drama.
The player sent shockwaves through the golfing world when he filed for divorce from his wife of seven years last May – just days before the beginning of the PGA Championship, the second major championship of the golfing calendar.
The PGA Tour icon left golfing fans further shocked when he performed a U-turn just a month later, calling off his divorce from Stoll ahead of last year’s US Open.
The freshly-crowned five-time major winner later paid tribute to his family during his Green Jacket ceremony.
‘Last but not least, over to my left, my family, my team,’ he said, trailing off as the tears threatened to spill again.
‘They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through. They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try and try and try again,’ he continued after recomposing himself.
‘The one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy, never give up on your dreams. Never ever give up on your dreams. Keep coming back. Keep working hard.’
uld also choose Xander Schauffele’s season over Scheffler’s, prompting the same reason as others. While many opted for the world no. 2’s 2024 season, all was not lost for the world no. 1 as two of his PGA Tour comrades came in to support him.
