World No. 2 McIlroy "My Marriage Has Broken Down"

Filed for Divorce After 7 Years of Marriage
One Daughter Since Marrying Erika in 2017

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) has filed for divorce in a U.S. court.

On the 14th (local time), American media including the Los Angeles Times reported that McIlroy filed a divorce petition at the Palm Beach County Court in Florida, stating that "the marriage has broken down irretrievably." McIlroy's manager confirmed the filing of the divorce lawsuit and issued a statement saying, "We hope everyone respects him and treats him amicably during this difficult time." McIlroy's wife, Erika, must respond within 20 days of receiving the divorce petition.

McIlroy and Erika first met in 2012. Erika, who was then an employee of the PGA of America, fell in love with McIlroy while assisting him during the Ryder Cup and they married in 2017. They have a three-year-old daughter. Before meeting Erika, McIlroy was engaged to former world No. 1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark), but they broke off the engagement.

McIlroy won the two-man team event Zurich Classic on the PGA Tour on the 28th of last month, and also claimed victory last week at the prestigious Wells Fargo Championship, marking back-to-back wins. These are his second and 26th career wins of the season. Starting on the 16th (local time), he will challenge for a third consecutive win at this year’s second major, the PGA Championship, held over four days at Valhalla Golf Club (par 71, 7,609 yards) in Louisville, Kentucky.