Rory McIlroy and Wife Erica Stoll Arrive Hand in Hand for Ryder Cup Welcome Dinner

All eyes were on Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, on Tuesday, September 23, as the couple arrived at Hempstead House in Sands Point, New York, where the Ryder Cup welcome dinner brought together golf’s brightest stars for a glamorous night.

McIlroy, 36, kept it classic in a black suit and tie, while Stoll, 38, stunned in a sleek black gown that fans quickly highlighted as one of the standout looks of the evening. 

The couple walked the carpet holding hands before posing with McIlroy’s Team Europe teammates and their partners.

The welcome dinner is a longstanding Ryder Cup tradition, held on the Tuesday before competition begins, which pits Team Europe against Team USA.

It is one of the few occasions during the week where players from both teams mingle in a social setting before the intensity ramps up. Guests included captains, vice captains, caddies and family members, making it one of the most glitzy nights in golf.

For McIlroy and Stoll, it marked another public show of unity. The couple briefly filed for divorce in May 2024 before reconciling weeks later, and their hand-in-hand arrival Tuesday night showed they’re back on solid ground heading into Ryder Cup week.

Stoll, who largely stays out of the spotlight, has made Ryder Cup week one of the few times she joins McIlroy publicly.

It also came just days after McIlroy admitted in an interview that fame can sometimes feel overwhelming. 

“It is a struggle for me to love the position I am in all the time,” McIlroy told The Guardian on Saturday, September 20. “There are times when I would like to just breeze through life and not get the attention I do … There are times that I yearn for a little anonymity and having a quieter life.”

Still, McIlroy has never shied away from the Ryder Cup spotlight. 

A seven-time participant, McIlroy helped lead Team Europe to victory in Rome in 2023 and has already promised that Europe is capable of winning on American soil at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York, site of this year’s competition.

McIlroy has earned a reputation for thriving under Ryder Cup pressure, helping carry his team to 5 Ryder Cup victories in his decorated career.

The Ryder Cup officially begins Friday, September 26, when McIlroy and his Team Europe teammates – including Jon Rahm, Justin Rose and captain Luke Donald – will take on members of Team USA – including Bryson DeChambeau, Scottie Scheffler, and captain Keegan Bradley – in the opening matches at the storied golf course.