Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll have been married for eight years and their relationship has seen its fair share of scrutiny – leading one pro golfer to avoid revealing her own relationship

Erica Stoll and Rory McIlroy have been married since 2017 (Image: Getty Images)

Golfer Charley Hull has admitted Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll’s media scrutiny persuaded her to stay silent on her own personal affairs.

The 29-year-old Ladies European Tour star, who went viral for smoking a cigarette on the course of Lancaster Country Club at the 2024 US Women’s Open, admitted that after seeing McIlroy and Stoll have their marriage picked apart from the outside world, she was influenced to keep her own relationship status a secret.

Speaking to US Weekly, she said: “I think it’s a good thing to do. It can be hard with my job and everything. In a couple weeks time, he is going to come out for a few days, but that’s about it, really.”

She added: “At the end of the day, what people say about you, whether it’s good or bad, is irrelevant. If you’re doing something good, people always have bad things to say about you and try to bring you down because you’re doing well.

“My famous saying is, ‘People’s opinions don’t pay my bills’. So you’ve just got to brush it off with a pinch of salt, you know what I mean?”

McIlroy shocked the golfing world last May when he filed for divorce from Stoll just days before the PGA Championship. However, the following month, he explained that the two had decided to work on their differences while calling off the separation.

Speaking ahead of the US Open, he said: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game.

Charley Hull has decided to keep her relationship private (Image: Getty Images)
“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

Stoll was quick to share a loving embrace with McIlroy and their daughter, Poppy, on the edge of the 18th at Augusta National after he clinched his first-ever Masters title to complete his career Grand Slam earlier this month.

McIlroy had just completed a nail-biting birdie putt to Justin Rose’s par during a play-off repeat of the iconic final hole of the course to get the job done, before dropping to his knees in raw emotion.

And in-turn, McIlroy was also quick to praise the support of his wife and their daughter during his winner’s speech after being presented with his Green Jacket and trophy.

He said: “Last but certainly not least, over to my left, my family, my team. They’ve been on this journey with me the whole way through.

“They know the burden that I’ve carried to come here every year and try, and try, and try again. And the one thing I would say to my daughter Poppy who is sitting over there, never give up on your dreams.

“Never, ever, give up on your dreams. Keep coming back, keep working hard, and if you put your mind to it you can do anything. I love you.”