Rory McIlroy & wife Erica spotted together with Shane Lowry at the Paris Olympics

Rory McIlroy, the renowned Northern Irish professional golfer, recently took advantage of his time in Paris to indulge in a variety of sports beyond his usual golf pursuits. On Wednesday, July 31, McIlroy was spotted enjoying an evening of tennis alongside his wife, Erica Stoll, and his teammate, Shane Lowry. The trio attended the exciting quarterfinal match at Roland Garros’ esteemed Philippe-Chatrier court. The match featured the Spanish duo of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal against the American pair of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram. The Americans emerged victorious, defeating the Spaniards in straight sets with scores of 6-2 and 6-4.

This outing marked one of the first public appearances of McIlroy and Erica together following a notable period in their personal lives. McIlroy had filed for divorce from Erica in May of the previous year, just one day after winning the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time. However, within a month of the initial filing, McIlroy withdrew the divorce petition, expressing a desire to work through their differences and reconcile. This public appearance in Paris, therefore, is significant, indicating a potential mending of their relationship.

McIlroy’s trip to Paris was primarily for the upcoming Olympic golf event, which commenced on Thursday, August 1. He entered the competition as one of the top contenders, alongside other prominent players such as Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. This event marks McIlroy’s second appearance at the Olympic Games, having previously competed at Tokyo 2020. At that event, he finished tied for fourth place after a close playoff for the bronze medal, which involved a three-hole playoff with seven players, ultimately losing out to CT Pan.

The story of how Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll first met is both charming and serendipitous. Their initial encounter took place during the 2012 Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club. At that time, Erica was working for the PGA of America and was responsible for coordinating transportation for the event. During the tournament, McIlroy overslept and was at risk of missing his tee time. Erica stepped in to arrange a police escort for him, ensuring that he could participate in what would later be celebrated as the “Miracle at Medinah.” Their interaction during this incident laid the groundwork for their future relationship.

Though McIlroy and Erica stayed in touch after their initial meeting, their romantic relationship did not begin until late 2014. They kept their relationship private until 2015 when McIlroy publicly acknowledged it. The couple’s engagement took place in Paris in 2015, a city known for its romance and charm. They tied the knot two years later, in April 2017, with a ceremony held at the luxurious Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.

The couple welcomed their first daughter, Poppy, in 2020. They currently reside in Jupiter, Florida, although McIlroy maintains several residences, including one in his hometown of Holywood, Northern Ireland. McIlroy’s connection to golf is deeply rooted in his family, as he was born in 1989 and began playing the sport at the modest Holywood Golf Course. His father, Gerry McIlroy, a scratch golfer himself, played a crucial role in teaching and coaching Rory during the early stages of his career, helping to shape the golfer who would go on to achieve remarkable success on the international stage.