Rory McIlroy’s concerns about untraditional Paris proposal with wife Erica Stoll

Rory McIlroy’s Unconventional Paris Proposal: How Terrorist Attacks Almost Changed His Love Story with Erica Stoll

A Whirlwind Romance in the City of Love

Golf legend Rory McIlroy proposed to American sports administrator Erica Stoll after dating for just seven months. Their love story, however, was almost derailed by tragic events. Rory had meticulously planned a romantic trip to Paris, the city renowned for its romance, in May 2015 to pop the question. But fate intervened with a terrorist attack that left the couple uncertain about whether to proceed with their plans.

Love Amidst Uncertainty

“We had planned to go to Paris since May, we were always going to go. Then what happened made us unsure what we were going to do. So we decided to go and if we didn’t like it, if we didn’t like the mood of the place, didn’t feel comfortable, we would go somewhere else,” Rory revealed in an interview with The Independent.

Despite the tension, Rory chose to go ahead with his plans, proposing during a dinner date. “We felt comfortable but I still thought at least at the start of the trip, it might make the rest of the trip even better. So we went out for dinner and that was that. It was a nice trip, a nice way to end the year.”

A Serendipitous Meeting

Erica Stoll first crossed paths with her future husband while working as a PGA transport official at the Ryder Cup in 2012. Rory credits Erica with preventing him from being disqualified from the competition in Illinois. A mix-up involving time zones led him to oversleep and almost miss his tee-off time. Erica’s quick thinking and coordination with the teams on-site secured a police escort, ensuring Rory made it to the course on time.

“Erica that week was always the one that was checking us in and out. She was there at transportation, so she was always in the car park over there. But yeah, it’s still cool to look around and think about that week, and obviously everything that’s happened since then. It’s pretty cool,” Rory told Golf Channel.

From Past Relationships to a Promising Future

At the time of their meeting, Rory was engaged to tennis player Caroline Wozniacki. They got engaged on New Year’s Eve in 2013 but split a few months later, with reports suggesting Rory ended the relationship in a brief phone call.

The decision to propose to Erica in Paris marked a significant turnaround for Rory, who had previously experienced public scrutiny over his personal life. The couple married in 2017, cementing their bond through a journey marked by unexpected twists and heartfelt decisions.