2024 was a tumultuous year for Rory McIlroy. The 35-year-old four-time major champion was in the throws of a public divorce with his wife Erica Stoll.
But several months on from their U-turn and withdrawal of the divorce filing, Stoll and his daughter Poppy were both on hand to watch McIlroy oust American golfer J.J. Spaun in a playoff to capture the second Players Championship win of his career.
McIlroy was greeted by wife Erica Stoll with a kiss after winning The Players Championship (Image: Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
McIlroy hit the headlines when he filed for divorce from Stoll last year on the eve of the PGA Championship but called it off in June 2024. The two now appear to be on good terms and appeared as strong as ever as she greeted the Northern Irishman with a kiss following his win.
“There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy told The Guardian last summer. “Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game.”
“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
Poppy handed her father a red flower after his win. “Poppy picked it for me,” McIlroy said in his press conference.
“She gave it to me just after I won. I think there was one more flower in it but it disintegrated in my back pocket. But she, she gave it to me.”
McIlroy scored a 14 in the three-hole playoff to best Spaun, who managed a 17. The win at PC Sawgrass marked the 35-year-old’s 28th career PGA victory.
“I am unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players,” he said. “It’s the third time I’ve won on St Patrick’s Day. It’s been a good luck charm for me.”
The world number two could have avoided the playoff altogether: he canceled out a birdie on the 16th with bogeys on the 17th and 18th holes
“Standing over that tee shot on 16 this morning is the most nervous I’ve been in a long time,” McIlroy added.
“So feeling like that and being able to hit the shots that I needed, while your stomach is sort of not feeling great and your legs are a little shaky and your heart rate is racing … To have to go through that, it’s nice to have that in recent memory for some of the tournaments coming up.”
McIlroy will now turn his attention to the Masters, set for April 7-13. The 35-year-old finished 22nd last year at Augusta and missed the cut altogether in 2023. He has never won the coveted green jacket.
