- Rory McIlroy is looking to win in Louisville amid personal turmoil
- READ: McIlroy thinks he plays his best at times of stress – that theory faces its ultimate test
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
A glum-looking Rory McIlroy stepped out for a practice round at Valhalla on Wednesday ahead of the PGA Championship – a day after news emerged that he had filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll.
McIlroy, who was also spotted practicing on Tuesday, attracted a big crowd and dutifully signed autographs despite his personal hardships.
The Northern Irishman was seen without his wedding ring on as he stood by business manager Sean O’Flaherty on Wednesday.
McIlroy, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, looked mostly serious as he continued his preparations for the tournament.
However, he was seen flashing a wide grin on the 12th hole in one picture.
Rory McIlroy looked glum as he practiced on Wednesday ahead of the PGA Championship
It emerged on Tuesday that McIlroy had filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll
McIlroy is seen with wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy a year ago at the 2023 Masters
The Northern Irishman signed autographs for fans despite the turmoil in his personal life
McIlroy was spotted with his business manager, Sean O’Flaherty, on Wednesday at practice
McIlroy did flash a wide smile at one point in his Wednesday practice round, on the 12th hole
The 2024 PGA Championship will start on Thursday, with McIlroy teeing off at 1:15pm local time.
McIlroy first met Erica during the 2012 Ryder Cup , which she was working for the PGA.
The couple shares a three-year-old daughter, Poppy, who was born in 2020.
His communications team confirmed the couple’s split on Tuesday, while McIlroy is set to address the press later on Wednesday afternoon.
Sources suggested to The Sun that McIlroy’s decision to divorce Stoll ‘came out of the blue.’
The golfer was pictured with his wedding ring just this past Sunday as he lifted the Wells Fargo Championship cup.
The Northern Irishman and Stoll tied the knot in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
McIlroy will tee off Thursday at 1:15pm local time, as he looks to win his first major since 2014
McIlroy, 35 years old, has twice won the PGA Championship: in 2012 and in 2014
He is said to have filed for the split 24 hours later in Florida ‘s Palm Beach County, where he lives.
A source told The Sun: ‘Their split comes right out of the blue and no one saw it coming. The timing is very odd with Rory about to take part in a tournament but perhaps he wanted to get things tied up before it started.
‘Ironically, Rory is in some of the best form of his life so whatever has been going on behind the scenes has not affected him at all.’
The golfer had said on Sunday that the ‘stars are aligning’ – just before he is thought to have filed the divorce papers, citing that his marriage had become ‘irretrievably broken’.
The petition for divorce states that the pair had signed a prenuptial agreement. However, the details of the arrangement have not been divulged.
The filing also calls for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for Poppy.
McIlroy is said to be worth $253.5million (£200million) according to the Sunday Times Rich List.
The four-time major champion and Stoll kept their relationship largely private before they married in a lavish ceremony in Ireland in 2017.
The couple exchanged their vows at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, in front of celebrity guests, including One Direction star Niall Horan and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin.
McIlroy’s attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010 after his serial cheating was exposed.
McIlroy skipped out on the PGA Champions dinner in Wednesday.
Previous winners such as Tiger Woods, Brooks Koepka and Justin Thomas were there, as seen in a photo shared by the tournament’s official X page.
