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A new book has claimed that Rory McIlroy had his eye on future wife Erica Stoll while he was still in a relationship with Caroline Wozniacki. While there is no proof or suggestion that the Northern Irish golf star was unfaithful to Wozniacki, it has been claimed that he was "throwing every ounce of game he had" at Erica when they met at the 2012 Ryder Cup,according to staffers interviews for the book.

At the time, Stoll was working for the PGA of America and notably helped arrange a police escort for McIlroy when he arrived late to his tee. The pair are said to have hit it off immediately, with staffers observing that McIlroy seemed "smitten". According to the Daily Mail, his overt attempts to flirt with her became something of a running joke among Ryder Cup staff, who allegedly shared playful messages in WhatsApp group chats - complete with "winking emojis" - speculating on whether they had "closed the deal" during the tournament.

McIlroy dated tennis star Wozniacki from 2011 to 2014, with the couple announcing their engagement in December 2013. Just months later, however, he abruptly called off the relationship, admitting he had got cold feet.

"The problem is mine," he said at the time. "The wedding invitations issued at the weekend made me realise that I wasn't ready for all that marriage entails. I wish Caroline all the happiness she deserves and thank her for the great times we've had."

In 2015, McIlroy began dating Stoll and by the end of that year they were engaged. They married in 2017 in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, and welcomed their daughter, Poppy, in 2020. However, behind the scenes, all was not well.

In May 2024, McIlroy filed for divorce, stating that the marriage was "irretrievably broken," before dramatically withdrawing the filing just a month later. "We have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning," he said, adding that the couple had "realised that our best future was as a family together."

The sudden about-face was described as an indictment of McIlroy's "reckless" personality by golf journalist Alan Shipnuck, whose new book 'Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar,' was released on Tuesday.

"The short-lived divorce proceedings and hasty reconciliation said more about him than her," he writes. "If you are an internationally famous athlete heading toward becoming a billionaire, it is probably unwise to file for divorce unless you are one million percent certain there is zero chance to save the marriage.

"But McIlroy's life has been defined by impetuousness, on the golf course and in matters of business and romance. The recklessness is part of what makes him appealing."

Stoll was by McIlroy's side when he won the Masters last year, claiming his first green jacket and completing a career Grand Slam - a feat achieved by only five other players. She was also present at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where McIlroy helped Europe secure a narrow 15-13 victory over the United States.

He now returns to Augusta National aiming to become just the fourth player in history to successfully defend his Masters title.