Dressed in an all-white ensemble, Erica Stoll was an equally sophisticated and supportive figure by her husband Rory McIlroy’s side as he clinched a win at the Masters.
But celebrity stylists have revealed the real reason behind her outfit on Sunday after the New York native did her best to ignore the drama surrounding her marriage, 11 months on from facing divorce papers from her partner.
Just a month later, Rory made a surprising U-turn by announcing they had reconciled, but Erica still appeared to need her ‘personal space’ while playing the supportive spouse at Augusta National Golf Club.
Discussing her statement ensemble at the tournament’s final, fashion expert Lisa Talbot told FEMAIL: ‘Erica’s choice of a wide-brimmed hat at The Masters was not only chic but incredibly intentional.
‘Wide-brimmed hats have long been a symbol of sophistication and quiet strength and in fashion terms, they command presence without saying a word.
‘Rather than hiding, this kind of accessory can offer a sense of personal space and control especially when in the public eye.
‘It’s a confident style move, and a beautiful reminder that fashion can be a form of self-care and quiet empowerment.’
Meanwhile, Oriona Robb, personal stylist and colour psychologist, said: ‘Erica’s choice to wear an all white outfit with a wide brimmed hat at the 2025 Masters was a statement, both a stylish one and one about her marriage.
Dressed in an all-white ensemble, Erica Stoll was an equally sophisticated and supportive figure by her husband Rory McIlroy’s side as he clinched a win at the Masters (pictured)
‘In fashion and colour psychology, white is frequently associated with purity, renewal and a fresh start. By donning an all-white outfit, Stoll may have been signalling a desire to project calmness and control during a period of personal upheaval as she and Rory look to work on their marital issues away from the spotlight.
‘It could also mean a fresh start for her marriage now they are looking to move away from divorce and work together on overcoming their issues.
‘The wide brimmed hat also added an element of privacy and sophistication, potentially serving as a subtle barrier against public scrutiny.’
Sophie McGown, designer and Founder of EAR SASS, echoed this reasoning, adding: ‘White oozes purity, honesty, and carries an almost angelic quality. It’s often chosen when someone wants to communicate calm, control, and clarity.
‘In Erica’s case, it could be because she wants to display messages of inner peace and serenity on her terms, as she may be conscious she will be in the limelight.
‘Many may interpret it as a message of innocence and transparency, and Erica’s outfit appears to speak volumes without her saying a word.’
Kelly Lundberg, a personal branding strategist, speaker and author, who runs Kellylundbergofficial.com, also suggested Erica’s ensemble was her way of saying: ‘The past is behind us. We’re starting again.’
‘What she didn’t wear is just as telling,’ insisted the expert. ‘No fiery red as that would be seen as too aggressive. No black, as that would be too funereal and detached. She shunned patterns that distract or “try too hard.”
But celebrity stylists have revealed the real reason behind her outfit on Sunday after the New York native (pictured left) did her best to ignore the drama surrounding her marriage, 11 months on from facing divorce papers from her partner
Just a month later, Rory (pictured with his wife Erica, and daughter, Poppy) made a surprising U-turn by announcing they had reconciled, but Erica still appeared to need her ‘personal space’ while playing the supportive spouse at Augusta National Golf Club
Discussing her statement ensemble at the tournament’s final, fashion expert Lisa Talbot told FEMAIL: ‘Erica’s (pictured) choice of a wide-brimmed hat at The Masters was not only chic but incredibly intentional’
‘And it worked. While Rory clutched to her like a lifeline, Erica was the calm eye in the storm. The colour white echoed the role she’s been asked to play: the stabiliser, the quiet support, the dignified constant.
‘In personal branding, how you show up is your message. And Erica’s message was crystal clear: “I’ve risen above it. I’m not here to fight. I’m here to be seen, but on my terms.”
‘It’s worth remembering: in the world of celebrity style, outfits are never just outfits. They’re billboards. They’re diplomacy. They’re reputation management stitched into a seam. And what Erica wore to the Masters wasn’t just chic – it was calculated composure.’
There was widespread surprise when Rory filed to divorce Erica last May – just days before the beginning of the PGA Championship, the second major championship of the golfing calendar.
But the player performed an astonishing U-turn just a month later, calling off the split and announcing the couple had ‘resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning’.
Friends suggested the real reasons driving the reconciliation were Rory’s fears over paying out a huge chunk of his £200million fortune to lawyers and his inability to ‘be on his own for more than five minutes’.
Following a turbulent year off the course, McIlroy, 35, finally slayed his demons at Augusta National on Sunday to complete the career Grand Slam after 11 years of trying, pipping Justin Rose to the Green Jacket in a dramatic playoff.
After his winning birdie putt dropped to seal the victory over his Ryder Cup teammate, Rory rushed to his wife of eight years and their daughter Poppy.
Rory poses with daughter Poppy and wife Erica holding the Masters trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club
Erica looked stoic as she watched her husband receive the traditional green jacket after winning the 2025 Masters in Augusta
But in a seemingly awkward moment, Erica appeared ‘more polite, subdued and tempered’ as Rory reached out to share an emotional hug with the mother-of-one, according to a body language expert.
Judi James told FEMAIL: ‘Erica uses back pats, which are firstly a gesture of gentle affection but which also usually signal a desire to break from an embrace, while Rory appears much more clingy.
‘Rory looks overwhelmed and clingy, while Erica’s response appears a little more polite, subdued and tempered.’
The golfer sent shockwaves through the sporting world when he filed for divorce from his wife last May.
A petition was served on her at their £10million mansion in Jupiter, Florida, on May 13, asking for shared parental custody of their little girl and for a judge to enforce a pre-nuptial agreement the couple signed prior to their marriage in 2017.
But a month later, with the golf world still reeling from news of the split, came an equally unexpected twist as it emerged Rory and Erica had reconciled their differences, with the divorce petition voluntarily dismissed.
Rory’s attorney Thomas Sasser filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal on his behalf on June 11 in Palm Beach County Courthouse after he and Erica reportedly held secret meetings at their Florida home for a month in a bid to salvage their marriage.
The meetings were initially focused on how they would co-parent their daughter Poppy, but the conversations eventually led to them reuniting, according to Irish outlet RSVP Live.
Rory poses with daughter Poppy and wife Erica Stoll holding the Masters trophy
Rory addressed the speculation surrounding his relationship status in a statement to The Guardian – two days before the opening round of the US Open.
‘There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game,’ McIlroy said.
‘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.’
One source close to the sportsman told The Daily Mail’s Alison Boshoff in June 2024 that the real reason driving the reconciliation was that McIlroy ‘can’t be on his own for more than five minutes’, adding that, quite simply, he ‘needs the stability’.
Another said he believes the multimillionaire golfer was told by his team that he had been too hasty in his divorce filing and should give his marriage ‘another six months’.
A friend also told Alison: ‘[Rory] definitely can’t be on his own for more than about five minutes. Rory is a nice guy. He’s a good friend and a great golfer, but he’s not a great partner.
‘I’m not party to the details of his marriage, but I do know that it’s very unbalanced, with him having all the power and her running in circles after him like a 1950s wife.’
The friend said Erica ‘does provide the stability that he desperately wants and needs. He won’t cope without anyone at all, but perhaps he thought at the time [of filing for divorce] that she wasn’t the right person.’
Rory kisses wife Erica during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club on Wednesday
The couple pose with their four-year-old daughter Poppy, who wowed spectators by sinking a 25ft putt on the final hole of the Augusta National course during the family-friendly event
Rory and his wife Erica share a joke during the traditional par-three Masters curtain raiser at Augusta National on Wednesday
The source added: ‘Could I be really cynical and say perhaps this is a way of him avoiding a massive payment to her?
‘There are lots of rumours swirling that he’s done this because he realised how much money he would lose. He’s definitely a man who likes his money.
‘His wealth is a sign to him of how good he is as a golfer, and he won’t be keen to start splitting that. I think it could be a mixture of the realisation that he won’t see as much of his daughter and will lose half of his money that has made him rethink.
‘Also, he’s really not very good on his own. That could’ve been in the thinking as well.’
Meanwhile, another friend said: ‘Perhaps the cold realisation of exactly how much the divorce could cost him hit hard.
‘McIlroy has amassed a fortune of more than £200m and his projected earnings in his career are predicted to be more than double that figure. Surely he didn’t want to see all that money he’s accrued diminish.
‘It would have felt like a huge waste if millions ended up in the pockets of lawyers.’
The friend added: ‘There is also their three-year-old daughter Poppy to consider. Rory is a doting dad and he has strong family values.’
The couple, who called off their divorce last year, share a laugh during Wednesday’s round
Erica smiles as Rory cradles his daughter at Augusta. The couple looked to be on the brink of divorce last May when McIlroy filed a divorce petition in Florida, but they quickly reconciled
The New York Post reported that the couple had signed a prenup agreement prior to their star-studded April 2017 wedding at Ashford Castle in County Mayo.
Prenuptial agreements are not legally binding in Ireland – or in England and Wales – but they are in the US where it is believed the legal agreement side of the marriage was taken care of before the ceremony. However, conditions vary from state to state.
An insider said: ‘Under Florida law, there are a number of legal challenges that can be made to a prenup, it’s not a ‘done deal’.
‘For example, a key issue would be is the prenup unfair to Erica – is it ‘unconscionable’ under Florida’s Uniform Premarital Agreement Act and it may not be enforceable on those grounds.
‘Basically, you could be looking at the potential for a protracted, extremely messy and expensive legal battle and clearly that is something Rory would want to avoid. It seems like he was headstrong and rushed into this without thinking it through.’
In May 2024, McIlroy was revealed as Northern Ireland’s richest person under 40, with the Sunday Times Rich List reporting his wealth at £225m – up £25m in 2024.
He was also listed at 19 in the Forbes annual list of the world’s highest paid athletes – a total yearly earning of $80.1 million which makes him the second highest paid golfer in the world.
A source told U.S. Weekly in May that year that there were other issues, too. Apparently Erica had been feeling ‘lonely’ in the marriage as the couple were effectively leading separate lives.
Rory – who married Erica in 2017 – enjoys a laugh during the annual competition at Augusta
The source said: ‘She knew what she was getting into with his profession, but once they had Poppy things really changed and she had a new perspective. Erica was usually absent for most of his tournaments and was really focused on Poppy.’
After his victory at the recent DP World Tour Championship in Dubai, Rory admitted that he had been through ‘a lot this year, professionally and personally’.
‘To have Erica and Poppy here, it means a lot,’ the golf player said in November.
‘It’s the first one they’ve been at in a while and for Poppy to be old enough now to sort of understand what is going on. I had to ask her if I did win, would she come out onto the 18th green with me?
‘Their support means the world to me and to be able to show Poppy what happened and some of the reasons maybe why I’m not around all of the time because I’m working or practising.
‘Hopefully she realises or thinks it’s worthwhile that I’m not there every night for dinner or for bedtime or whatever it is.
‘It’s incredible that they were here with me this week and I’m excited to go and celebrate with them.’
Rory first met New York state native Erica during the 2012 Ryder Cup while she was working for the PGA of America.
Erica Stoll looks on during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament at Augusta National Golf Club, pictured left. Pictured right, Erica after Rory’s Masters win
He missed his alarm but she helped him make his tee time at Medinah in Illinois by arranging a police escort.
They began dating several months after he abruptly called off his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014, with the couple adopting a low profile initially.
‘I am very happy in my love life,’ he said the following summer. ‘We haven’t really been putting it out there. She is from America, which is why I like to spend time in Palm Beach.
‘The past six or seven months have been really nice. That part of my life is going great.’
He proposed in Paris later the same year, and in April 2017 the couple were married at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, where Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder reportedly delivered live performances.
But Erica has resolutely shunned the limelight, even keeping her pregnancy under wraps until the third trimester, and has remained a crucial source of calmness and stability throughout the relationship.
‘For me, Erica brings such a level of normality to everything,’ McIlroy explained early in their relationship. ‘She has a calming presence, a sereneness, and that’s not just on me; it is noticeable in any company.
‘She never wants to be the centre of attention and is always very comfortable in the background.
‘She has been a great influence on me and has given such a great balance to my life – between who I am when people see me out here, and who I am at home.’
The Northern Irishman held his nerve on Sunday to see off Justin Rose to complete a career Grand Slam and end 11 years of heartbreak since his 2014 PGA Championship victory.
After his winning birdie putt dropped to seal the victory over his Ryder Cup teammate, Rory collapsed to the ground with his head in hands as his shoulders wracked with sobs.
The player joined Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only golfers to capture the four major championships in the Masters era.
But just hours after his achievement, there came an unwelcome reminder of Erica and Rory’s divorce drama when CBS sports reporter Amanda Balionis took to Instagram to praise the golfer’s ‘legacy’ achievement.
Amanda’s comments come just months after rumours that she and Rory had been having some form of a relationship while they were both out on tour. None of these rumours have been proven and neither Amanda nor Rory have outright addressed them.
She wrote: ‘It took 17 Masters starts, 11 years of attempting to complete the career Grand Slam and 73 this week but Rory McIlroy has his Green Jacket and has solidified his legacy alongside Tiger, Jack, Gary, Hogan and Sarazen. What a week and a battle down to the very end.’
There was speculation of a potential romance with Balionis after the pair appeared to enjoy a strong rapport during a flirtatious interview at the Wells Fargo Championship.