Rory McIlroy was spotted without his wedding ring on Wednesday, two days after filing for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll, as he was practicing at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville ahead of the start of the 2024 PGA Championship on Thursday.
The 35-year-old, whose dad Gerry is with him at the tournament, was also wearing a beaded bracelet with the message, “Smile.”
McIlroy filed for divorce in Florida on Monday, saying his and Stoll’s marriage was “irretrievably broken.”
The Northern Irishman was still wearing his wedding ring on Sunday when he won the Wells Fargo Championship, a day before the divorce filing.
McIlroy’s PR team confirmed the divorce filing on Tuesday, saying he had a “desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.”
The four-time major champion is using attorney Thomas Sasser, who also handled Tiger Woods’ 2010 divorce from ex-wife Elin Nordegren.
Follow the latest on golf star Rory McIlroy’s divorce from Erica Stoll:
- Why Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll are divorcing: ‘Breaking point’
- Rory McIlroy divorce, LIV drama take backset to golf as PGA Championship tees off
Rory McIlroy spotted without wedding ring at PGA Championship two days after divorce filing- Rory McIlroy comments on stunning divorce filing from wife Erica Stoll
- Rory McIlroy divorce docs reveal prenup, relationship was ‘irretrievably broken’
In the filing, McIlroy is asking for shared custody of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Poppy, and the enforcement of a prenuptial agreement the two entered into on March 7, 2017, about a month before their lavish wedding at Ashford Castle in Ireland.
McIlroy and Stoll began dating in 2014 after he broke off his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who later married former Knicks player David Lee.
In what was a subtle sign that something was off with McIlroy’s and Stoll’s relationship, Stoll was not in attendance at last month’s Masters in Augusta, Ga., a year after partaking in the Par 3 contest with their daughter.
McIlroy won his second PGA Championship in 2014 at Valhalla, the last time he won a major.
