Rory McIlroy ‘paid private detective to deliver divorce papers to wife Erica Stoll’ while playing in tournament
RORY MCILROY is claimed to have paid a private investigator to hand divorce papers to wife Erica Stoll earlier this month.
The golfer, 35, had papers delivered to Stoll on May 13.
3Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from wife Erica Stoll
3The couple have been married since 2017
3McIlroy has continued to compete since the news emerged
McIlroy wed Erica in 2017, with the couple having a three-year-old daughter, Poppy, together.
According to The Belfast Telegraph, the Northern Irishman had Florida cop Carl Woods deliver the papers earlier this month.
At the time McIlroy, who had penned the papers on May 9, was at a tournament in Wesley Chapel.
The golf icon is claimed to have hired attorney Thomas Sasser, who handled Tiger Woods’ high-profile divorce from Elin Nordegren in 2010.
Stoll, 36, was given 20 days to respond to the petition upon receiving it on May 13.
The papers are alleged to claim that their marriage is “irretrievably broken”.
They add that McIlroy and Stoll have a prenuptial arrangement in place – and that the petition has called for shared custody of Poppy.
The petition is also alleged to state: “A phone call will not protect you.
“Your written response, including the case number given above and the names of the parties, must be filed if you want the court to hear your side of the case.
“If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case, and your wages, money and property may thereafter be taken without further warning from the court.
“There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away.”
McIlroy’s team confirmed his intention to divorce Stoll on May 14.
The golfer began dating the American in 2015, a year after his split with former fiancee Caroline Wozniacki.
They went on to marry in 2017, with their wedding being attended by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Coldplay’s Chris Martin and One Direction’s Niall Horan.
McIlroy headed to the PGA Championship just days after news emerged of his split with Stoll.
His press conference began with a warning from the moderator not to ask questions about the divorce.
When quizzed over how he was feeling personally, McIlroy simply replied: “I am ready to play this week.”
