Rory McIlroy confirms reason wife Erica Stoll missed his latest award win

Rory McIlroy has disclosed that his wife, Erica Stoll, and daughter, Poppy, were absent for his BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2025 triumph. He revealed that the duo remained in the United States while the golf icon is scheduled to reunite with them on Friday following his festivities in Salford.

McIlroy wrapped up an incredible 2025 with one last accolade, defeating contenders including F1 world champion Lando Norris and darts phenom Luke Littler. The Northern Irishman finally captured the Masters this year to achieve a career Grand Slam before contributing to Europe’s triumph in the Ryder Cup.

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The 36 year old, alongside Tommy Fleetwood, also received the Team of the Year honor during a triumphant evening. McIlroy honored his fellow contenders and family while acknowledging the influence Erica and Poppy had on his remarkable year.

“First of all I’d like to congratulate the other finalists, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes,” said McIlroy on stage. “It’s a pleasure just to be in this room and I feel honoured just to be a part, so congratulations.

“Look 2025 was the year I made my dreams come true, from Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything in between. It really has been the year that dreams are made of.”, reports the Mirror.

“I have a lot of people to thank, firstly the public for voting for me, but my family, my mum and dad. They sacrificed so much for me and I wouldn’t be here without them. Thank you.

“My wife Erica, my daughter Poppy. They’re what holds me together, they’re my rock.

“They couldn’t be here tonight, they are back in America, but I can’t wait to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate with them. I can’t wait to see you, I love you.”

Before the award announcement, McIlroy was asked about how fatherhood has shifted his perspective.

He expressed his deep respect for Sergio Aguiar and David Stancombe, two fathers who ran the London Marathon in memory of their daughters, Elsie Dot Stancombe, Alice da Silva Aguiar and Bebe King, who tragically lost their lives at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in Southport in July 2024.

“I think being a father of a little girl, seeing the dads up there tonight, they are absolute heroes,” said McIlroy.

“Being a dad, it makes the losses a lot easier. It makes the wins even more special to be able to share that with Erica [wife] and Poppy [daughter].

“My family, they’ve watched me go through all of this like I’m sure a lot of the public has. I feel like everyone’s been on this journey with me.”

Rory McIlroy urged wife Erica Stoll to ‘punch’ him over Masters problem

Golf icon Rory McIlroy jokingly told his wife, Erica Stoll, to “punch” him if he ever complained about wearing his first-ever green jacket.

Last April, McIlroy barely beat Justin Rose in a sudden-death playoff at Hole 18 of Augusta National to claim victory in his 11th try at completing the career Grand Slam — an achievement that only Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have managed in the Masters era.

In the months following the major career achievement, golf enthusiasts from around the globe have naturally requested to see McIlroy’s Green Jacket — though the Northern Irishman isn’t always eager to slip on the coveted prize.

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“I was in India a few weeks ago and I was in the Middle East the last two weeks and most places you go, if you’re doing events, the people want to see the green jacket,” McIlroy shared while speaking on CNBC’s CEO Council Forum.

“So you bring the green jacket with you, and sometimes, you don’t want to wear it, you know. You don’t want to.”

After realizing he was grumbling about the hard-to-get memento he’d chased throughout his career, McIlroy made an unusual request to Erica.

“I sort of complained about wearing it in Abu Dhabi. And I said to my wife, ‘Erica, if you ever hear me complain about wearing this thing again, like punch me or do something,'” he said.

“‘Because I’ve waited my whole life to wear this, and I’m complaining about wearing it.'” McIlroy faced a series of challenges on his journey to securing the green jacket, including a late “inexcusable” collapse on Day 1 and a missed putt on the final hole of the last round that could have forced a playoff.

After sinking the tournament-winning putt in sudden death, McIlroy couldn’t hold back the emotions that had been building throughout the tumultuous weekend. The 36 year old immediately fell to his knees and yelled towards the sky, clearly relieved to finally conquer the Masters.

Reflecting on the memorable moment, McIlroy admitted that he still finds it hard to hold back tears. “If I watch that final scene on the 18th green and I drop to my knees, it’s still hard for me not to cry,” he confessed.

“Whatever it is, eight or nine months on, it’s just so hard for me not to feel those emotions again.

“But if you want something for so long and so badly, and you end up doing it, you dream about doing it, but you don’t dream about what comes next.

“Honestly, like I’ve dreamt about that moment for so long, and it lived up to everything I thought it would be, and more.”

Rory McIlroy’s three-word message to wife Erica Stoll summed up his year

Rory McIlroy’s golf year ended with a straightforward thought after the Ryder Cup that pretty much encapsulated everything he’s experienced and endured during the 2025 PGA Tour season.

Just after Team Europe secured the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, McIlroy turned toward his wife, Erica Stoll, and said, “What a year.” While simple, the message carried weight after he had earlier accomplished a long-chased goal during the Masters under pressure from fans, media, and himself during the ride.

The short phrase was the smallest, unfiltered window into how he experienced 2025 in its entirety.

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McIlory’s season hit all emotions seconds after Shane Lowry’s clinching putt dropped and lifted Europe past the United States.

McIlroy’s message to Stoll came just before American spectators went as far as throwing a drink at Erica on the 17th hole. He said the behavior was unacceptable and insisted that golf should hold itself to a higher standard, and his stance drew support from golfers across the PGA Tour and from ESPN’s Mike Greenberg.

Greenberg stated that the environment crossed the line for a sport rooted in decorum and that such actions did not represent typical Americans. He also mentioned he had to watch parts of the broadcast with the sound off and even turned it off entirely because of the behavior of Team USA fans.

McIlroy played a crucial role for Europe despite losing his singles match to Scottie Scheffler.

He contributed to team victories, including the four-ball match where he and Shane Lowry defeated Justin Thomas and Cameron Young. His point total by the end of the event moved him past Tony Jacklin on the all-time Ryder Cup list.

McIlroy’s 2025 season featured a Masters victory in April, the long-sought moment that finally completed his Career Grand Slam. Some fans argued that the win alone justified the words he delivered to Erica.

Others pointed toward Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph as validation for how he defined his year. The Irish golfer did not win another PGA Tour tournament after Augusta, but he ended the year with over $16 million in earnings, thanks to three victories, including the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the PLAYERS Championship, and the Masters.

He missed just one cut at the RBC Canadian Open, where he shot a 78 in the second round.

McIlory was consistently at the top of the leaderboards throughout the season. His win at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am saw him shoot a total of 266 over four rounds, finishing 21-under, and earning $3.6 million.

His early schedule involved finishing in the top 20 at The Genesis Invitational, tying for 15th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a score of 285, and winning the PLAYERS Championship with a score of 276, earning an additional $4.5 million.

Reason Rory McIlroy ‘never liked’ Roy Keane before controversial Erica Stoll comments

Rory McIlroy has previously made his feelings clear about Roy Keane, who made a harsh comment about the golfer’s wife, Erica Stoll. During the recent Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy faced jeers, whistles and some harsh words from the American crowd.

The 36-year-old golfer responded with a few choice words of his own, but when his wife, Erica, was struck by a drink thrown from the crowd, he labelled it as ‘unacceptable’. However, Manchester United legend Keane had a different take on the incident, leaving his Overlap co-hosts Jamie Carragher, Gary Neville and Ian Wright in fits of laughter.

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Keane amused his fellow pundits when he showed little sympathy and suggested to McIlroy that he should have told his wife: “Just stay at the hotel, love.”

“I’m no expert in golf, I don’t play the game, but I watch top-level sport, and you’re telling me there is pressure on these players because some people were shouting,” Keane stated. “In football, if you go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night [that’s pressure].

“These guys are playing in tournaments every week, and all of a sudden they are going to be upset by a few yanks.

“McIlroy has won all the big prizes, do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous. And then they do get upset because of their partners.

“Let me tell you, if I was a golfer and my partner or wife was getting abuse, I’d go, ‘Just stay at the hotel, love; I’ll see you tonight when I get back.’ You don’t come to the other tournaments, but you get into an outfit and come to the Ryder Cup; stay at home.

“If I’m getting loads of stick, go home. And I bet they go back to a nice hotel, they’re not going to be camping in a tent.”

Keane might have intended his remarks as jest, but it’s not the first occasion he’s sparked debate regarding the golfer, having previously declined to sign an autograph when McIlroy was merely 12 years old.

In 2017, McIlroy received plaudits after footage emerged of him presenting a golf ball to a young supporter which went viral.

The golfer expressed astonishment at the attention the clip garnered, insisting such gestures were routine for him. “It just shows what such a small thing can mean to a kid,” McIlroy said.

“I had it go the other way for me, where I asked someone for an autograph as a kid and they didn’t give it to me. And I’ve never liked them since.

“It was Roy Keane. He should be one of my heroes because I was, and still am, a huge Man United fan. But I remember I went and asked him for his autograph at the Portmarnock Links Hotel when he was with the Ireland squad and he just said ‘no’.

“And it just sort of stuck with me ever since. So, that’s why if a kid asks me for an autograph, I always try to do it.”

McIlroy later reflected on the encounter with Keane, where he was turned down for an autograph, offering his perspective on what had transpired.

Speaking on the Overlap last year, McIlroy said: “I was down at the Parmer Links hotel and the Republic of Ireland team were staying there too.

“I saw one of my Manchester United heroes, Roy Keane, in the lobby, and I must’ve been around 12 years old, so I went over to him asking for an autograph.

“He looked up at me and said, “not today kid”, but it was okay as it didn’t make an impression on me.”