Golfer Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce in the US from his wife Erica Stoll after seven years of marriage.
Court records show the 35-year-old star from Holywood, Co Down, submitted a “petition for dissolution of marriage” in Palm Beach County in Florida on Monday.
The news comes ahead of the world number 2 golfer competing in a major US tournament on Thursday.
McIlroy met Ms Stoll in 2012 when she was working for the PGA of America at the Ryder Cup.
He credited her with helping him get a police escort to the course, with minutes to spare, after misreading his tee-off time.
The pair married in 2017 in a star-studded ceremony at Ashford Castle in Co Wexford, in front of guests including actors Jamie Dornan and James Nesbitt, and singer Niall Horan among others.
They have one child together, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, who was born in 2020.
McIlroy filed for divorce the day after winning the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time at Quail Hollow in North Carolina.
He is scheduled to speak to the media on Wednesday afternoon at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla in Kentucky, the scene of his last major victory in 2014.
In a brief statement, a spokesperson for McIlroy said: “Rory’s desire is to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible.
“He won’t be making any further comment.”
Ms Stoll is often seen at tournaments supporting McIlroy, however, she was absent at the Masters in Augusta last month.
On Sunday following his win at Quail Hollow, McIlroy paid tribute to his mother for US Mother’s Day, but did not mention Ms Stoll.
McIlroy previously was engaged to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, but called off his engagement in 2014, just days after sending out wedding invitations.
At the time, he said in a statement that he “wasn’t ready for all that marriage entails”.
