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\n Related: <\/span>Rory McIlroy\u2019s Mom Goes Viral With Custom Purse at 2026 Masters<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tRory McIlroy just made golf history \u2014 again. But honestly? His mom might have stolen the show. The 36-year-old won his second straight green jacket at the 2026 Masters Tournament on Sunday, April 13, beating Scottie Scheffler by one shot. That alone is a massive deal. He\u2019s now just the fourth golfer ever to win [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
The book also claimed that McIlroy and wife Erica began flirting when they first met, while the golfer was still dating tennis star Caroline Wozniacki<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\u201cHe was throwing every ounce of game he had at Erica,\u201d a former PGA Tour employee claimed to Shipnuck. \u201cIt was not subtle. It became a running joke among a few of us: Has Rory closed the deal yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither McIlroy nor Wozniacki have addressed any relationship overlap. McIlroy and Wozniacki were together from 2011 to 2014.<\/p>\n
Pro golfer Paul McGinley<\/strong> also weighed in on the challenges of being married to McIlroy.<\/p>\n\u201cIt can\u2019t be easy being Rory\u2019s wife,\u201d McGinley wrote in the book. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s not easy for her because she\u2019s quiet by nature. She kind of keeps her thoughts to herself. She\u2019s had to find where she fits in and where she doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n
April 8: Family Time at the Par 3 Contest<\/h2>\n
Despite the swirling headlines, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll put on a united front at the Par 3 Contest on April 8, 2026, at Augusta National Golf Club. Their daughter, Poppy, and Stoll served as McIlroy\u2019s caddies, twinning in caddie uniforms featuring McIlroy\u2019s last name on the back. McIlroy even helped Poppy execute a putt on the fairway.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl,\u201d the Irish golfer told reporters. \u201cI really love that she started to get into the game a lot more, and it all stemmed from the putt last year at the Par 3.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n![\"Remember](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-468929040-niall-horan-rory-mcilroy-masters-2015_961582.jpg?crop=0px%2C0px%2C1950px%2C1103px&resize=400%2C225&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Related: <\/span>Remember When Niall Horan Caddied for Rory McIlroy \u2014 and Fell on Live TV?<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\t\t\tBefore Rory McIlroy became a back-to-back Masters champion, he handed his golf bag to a pop star \u2014 and the internet got one of its favorite sports crossover moments. At the 2015 Masters Par-3 Contest, One Direction\u2019s Niall Horan served as McIlroy\u2019s celebrity caddie at Augusta National. The pairing of a global music star and [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cShe made sure that I brought her putter up this year, so she could hit the putt with her putter and not mine,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s been amazing, and as well, just to see her grow up to have her travel the world to see different places, to give her a life that I could only dream about when I was that age, that\u2019s been the coolest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The family outing came less than two years after Stoll filed for divorce in May 2024, only to dismiss her petition the following month. McIlroy and Stoll began dating in 2015 and married in 2017. They welcomed Poppy in September 2020.<\/p>\n\n![\"Rory](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Rory-McIlroys-Masters-Run-Highlights-Historic-Win-and-More-Inline.jpg?w=1000&quality=86&strip=all\")
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\n Rory McIlroy (C) of Northern Ireland poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony alongside father Gerry (L), mother Rosie (2nd L), wife Erica (2nd R) and daughter Poppy (R) after winning during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament<\/span> Photo by Hector Vivas\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nApril 12: A Historic Win \u2014 and a Viral Celebration<\/h2>\n
On April 12, 2026, Rory McIlroy held off Scottie Scheffler<\/strong> with a one-shot victory to claim his second consecutive green jacket<\/a>, making him the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. The feat placed him in the company of Woods, Jack Nicklaus<\/strong> and Nick Faldo<\/strong>.<\/p>\nBut it was the celebration afterward that had fans buzzing on social media<\/a>. Viewers noticed McIlroy had to call over wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy to celebrate with him.<\/p>\n\u201cRory having to call his wife and daughter over to hug him. Tough scene,\u201d one fan wrote via X.<\/p>\n
Another added, \u201cGood for Rory but he gave bigger hugs to his private equity guys he has known for 4 months than his wife and daughter. Great to see a back to back winner but out on that dude.\u201d<\/p>\n
A third fan described the celebratory hugs as \u201clukewarm.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rory McIlroy\u2019s Trophy Speech Honors His Family<\/h2>\n
During his trophy presentation on April 12, 2026, Rory McIlroy delivered an emotional speech in which he thanked his wife, daughter and parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst and foremost my wife and daughter, Erica and Poppy, they have to put up with me at home and trust me sometimes that\u2019s a tough thing to do<\/a>. But they have been my biggest supporters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-narrow.jpg\")
\n\t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.usmagazine.com\/wp-content\/themes\/us-weekly\/assets\/img\/newsletter-bg-wide.jpg\")
<\/p>\n\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n
\u201cHe was throwing every ounce of game he had at Erica,\u201d a former PGA Tour employee claimed to Shipnuck. \u201cIt was not subtle. It became a running joke among a few of us: Has Rory closed the deal yet?\u201d<\/p>\n
Neither McIlroy nor Wozniacki have addressed any relationship overlap. McIlroy and Wozniacki were together from 2011 to 2014.<\/p>\n
Pro golfer Paul McGinley<\/strong> also weighed in on the challenges of being married to McIlroy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt can\u2019t be easy being Rory\u2019s wife,\u201d McGinley wrote in the book. \u201cI\u2019m sure it\u2019s not easy for her because she\u2019s quiet by nature. She kind of keeps her thoughts to herself. She\u2019s had to find where she fits in and where she doesn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the swirling headlines, Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll put on a united front at the Par 3 Contest on April 8, 2026, at Augusta National Golf Club. Their daughter, Poppy, and Stoll served as McIlroy\u2019s caddies, twinning in caddie uniforms featuring McIlroy\u2019s last name on the back. McIlroy even helped Poppy execute a putt on the fairway.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl,\u201d the Irish golfer told reporters. \u201cI really love that she started to get into the game a lot more, and it all stemmed from the putt last year at the Par 3.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t<\/a><\/p>\n \n\t\t\tBefore Rory McIlroy became a back-to-back Masters champion, he handed his golf bag to a pop star \u2014 and the internet got one of its favorite sports crossover moments. At the 2015 Masters Par-3 Contest, One Direction\u2019s Niall Horan served as McIlroy\u2019s celebrity caddie at Augusta National. The pairing of a global music star and [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cShe made sure that I brought her putter up this year, so she could hit the putt with her putter and not mine,\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cYeah, that\u2019s been amazing, and as well, just to see her grow up to have her travel the world to see different places, to give her a life that I could only dream about when I was that age, that\u2019s been the coolest thing.\u201d<\/p>\n The family outing came less than two years after Stoll filed for divorce in May 2024, only to dismiss her petition the following month. McIlroy and Stoll began dating in 2015 and married in 2017. They welcomed Poppy in September 2020.<\/p>\n On April 12, 2026, Rory McIlroy held off Scottie Scheffler<\/strong> with a one-shot victory to claim his second consecutive green jacket<\/a>, making him the first back-to-back Masters champion since Tiger Woods in 2001 and 2002. The feat placed him in the company of Woods, Jack Nicklaus<\/strong> and Nick Faldo<\/strong>.<\/p>\n But it was the celebration afterward that had fans buzzing on social media<\/a>. Viewers noticed McIlroy had to call over wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy to celebrate with him.<\/p>\n \u201cRory having to call his wife and daughter over to hug him. Tough scene,\u201d one fan wrote via X.<\/p>\n Another added, \u201cGood for Rory but he gave bigger hugs to his private equity guys he has known for 4 months than his wife and daughter. Great to see a back to back winner but out on that dude.\u201d<\/p>\n A third fan described the celebratory hugs as \u201clukewarm.\u201d<\/p>\n During his trophy presentation on April 12, 2026, Rory McIlroy delivered an emotional speech in which he thanked his wife, daughter and parents.<\/p>\n \u201cFirst and foremost my wife and daughter, Erica and Poppy, they have to put up with me at home and trust me sometimes that\u2019s a tough thing to do<\/a>. But they have been my biggest supporters,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n You have successfully subscribed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\nApril 8: Family Time at the Par 3 Contest<\/h2>\n
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t
\n Related: <\/span>Remember When Niall Horan Caddied for Rory McIlroy \u2014 and Fell on Live TV?<\/span><\/a>
\n\t\t<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>
\n Rory McIlroy (C) of Northern Ireland poses with the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony alongside father Gerry (L), mother Rosie (2nd L), wife Erica (2nd R) and daughter Poppy (R) after winning during the final round of the 2026 Masters Tournament<\/span> Photo by Hector Vivas\/Getty Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nApril 12: A Historic Win \u2014 and a Viral Celebration<\/h2>\n
Rory McIlroy\u2019s Trophy Speech Honors His Family<\/h2>\n
\n\t<\/p>\nThank You!<\/h3>\n
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