By Ryan Herrington
Rory McIlroy announced via social media that he and wife, Erica, are parents to a new baby girl, born Aug. 31.

The question of what would happen if Rory McIlroy’s pregnant wife, Erica, went into labor during this week’s Tour Championship became moot on Monday as she delivered Poppy Kennedy McIlroy at 12:15 p.m. in Florida. McIlroy revealed the birth of the couple’s first child on Thursday via social media.

 

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Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born August 31st, 12:15pm. She is the absolute love of our lives. Mother and baby are doing great. Massive thank you to all the staff at Jupiter Medical Center and Dr Sasha Melendy for their amazing care

A post shared by RORY (@rorymcilroy) on Sep 3, 2020 at 4:36am PDT

News of McIlroy’s pending fatherhood became public over the weekend during the BMW Championship, the four-time major winner indicating that the baby girl was due in the next few days. McIlroy said his caddie, Harry Diamond, was keeping a phone close by throughout play at Olympia Fields in case Erica went into labour. Asked what might happen if he got the call at any time during the tournament, McIlroy was unequivocal.

“I’d be out of here,” he said.

Similarly, McIlroy indicated over the weekend that if the baby hadn’t come before this week’s Tour Championship, he would leave East Lake at any time if necessary.

“Yeah, for sure. Yeah, definitely, just depending on what happens,” McIlroy said. “I’m going to play in many more Tour Championships and it’s only going to be the birth of your first child once. That trumps anything else.”

Withdrawal from the PGA Tour’s final playoff event, however, would mean that McIlroy would have to drop out of the race for the FedEx Cup entirely.

Now, McIlroy can compete at East Lake, where he has won twice (2016 and 2019) and finished inside the top 10 in all but one of his six starts at the course, without any worry. The reigning FedEx Cup champion arrived at the course on Thursday admitting to being “emotionally drained” from the previous few days.

“Thankfully, Erica has her mom and sister with her at the minute, so she’s got plenty of help, and I feel a little better leaving and coming here to play this week.

“Yeah, I didn’t want to leave,” he added. “I was supposed to fly at 8 so I was going to leave the house … airport is close to our house and I was just going to jump on the plane and come up, so I was going to leave at 7:30. I ended up not leaving until 8. It was just hard to leave, really hard to leave. But at the end of the day life doesn’t stop. Life moves on. And as I said, I know that Erica is surrounded by her family, and my mom and dad are just around the corner, so she’s got all the help she needs, so I felt a little more comfortable being able to go.”

McIlroy tees off in the first round at 1:30 p.m. with Brendon Todd. He starts the tournament at three-under par, seven strokes back of leader Dustin Johnson.

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By Daniel Rapaport
Last week, after his seventh consecutive finish outside the top 10, Rory McIlroy spoke about struggling to find a spark in this new, fan-less normal. Golf didn’t seem like the most important thing in the world.

Perhaps we now know one reason why.

As first reported by Golf Channel’s Steve Sands on the air Saturday, McIlroy’s wife, Erica, is pregnant with the couple’s first child. After his third round of three-over-par 73 that dropped him from first into a tie for sixth in the BMW Championship, McIlroy confirmed that their baby girl is due very soon.

“We’re about to be parents very soon, so we’re obviously super excited,” McIlroy said. “We’ve been sharing the news with friends and family, obviously, but I didn’t think it was something that I really particularly needed to share out here. It’s a private matter, but we’re really excited and can’t wait for her to get here.”

McIlroy said he has been waiting for the call that Erica has gone into labour and that at times he hasn’t been as focused as he normally would because he doesn’t know if he’ll have to leave in the middle of a round. He said his caddie and longtime friend, Harry Diamond, is keeping his phone close.

As for having to leave during the round on Sunday or next week at the Tour Championship?

“I’d be out of here,” McIlroy said.

RELATED: Rory deserves kudos, not criticism for openess about doldrums

The couple first met during the 2012 Ryder Cup, when New York native Erica Stoll—who was then working for the PGA of America—helped Rory make his tee-time for a Sunday singles match after he overslept. They began officially dating in 2015 and were married in April 2017.

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Rory McIlroy married Erica Stoll on Saturday in a castle. And in front of a star-studded guest list.

Call it “The Rory-al Wedding.”

According to E! News, some music royalty (both old and young) performed on the special day. Stevie Wonder is believed to have played during the couple’s ceremony, while Ed Sheeran put on a show during the reception. Not a bad one-two punch.

Other celebrities at Ireland’s Ashford Castle on Saturday included musician Niall Horan, actor Jamie Dornan, and Coldplay’s Chris Martin.

And yes, there were golfers there as well. Sergio Garcia, Padraig Harrington, Shane Lowry and Paul McGinley were in attendance, reports The Belfast Telegraph, which also has a few pictures of guests leaving the wedding.

Unfortunately, there are no photos of the lovely couple from their special day yet, but we send along our congratulations. McIlroy previously said they’ll go on a 10-day honeymoon and then he’ll return to action at next month’s Players Championship.

“I’ll come back to the Players refreshed and a married man and start a new chapter in my life,” McIlroy told reporters at the Masters.

Main Photo: Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll at the 2016 Ryder Cup. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Image)

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According to multiple news outlets, Rory McIlroy is scheduled to marry Erica Stoll on Saturday, April 22. The Belfast Telegraph reports the ceremony will take place at Ireland’s Ashford Castle in what’s being billed as “the wedding of the decade.”

The timing is in line with what McIlroy told reporters at the conclusion of the Masters when asked about tying the knot.

“I’m excited,” he said. “It’s a great time in my life. It would have been nice to walk down the aisle in a green jacket.”

McIlroy only finished T-7 at Augusta National, but he wasn’t kidding about wearing the green jacket at the ceremony, something winner Sergio Garcia is considering for his July wedding.

“Oh, yeah. If the members would have allowed me, Chairman Payne would have allowed me, but I’m very — we’re very excited,” McIlroy said. “It’s a great time in our lives. That’s what I’m — the next few weeks it’s all about that. I’ll come back to the Players refreshed and a married man and start a new chapter in my life.”

McIlroy also said the couple would go on a 10-day honeymoon “in the middle of nowhere” following the wedding. If they leave the following day, that would still give McIlroy a full week to prepare for the Players, which is May 11-14 at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy and Stoll, a former PGA of America employee, got engaged in December of 2015. Stoll famously helped McIlroy get to his Sunday tee time at the 2012 Ryder Cup.

The Ashford Castle was featured in the 1952 movie, The Quiet Man, which starred John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Many celebrities — and even President Ronald Reagan — have stayed at the historic hotel through the years. The hotel wouldn’t confirm the event, but did reveal all 82 rooms, plus a cottage, are booked for this weekend. McIlroy and Stoll have celebrated New Year’s Eve there the past two years.

“They are trying to keep the big day as private as they can, even with all the A-listers invited,” an insider told The Irish Sun.

The Irish Sun is also reporting that Coldplay will perform at the reception. Kinda puts your wedding band to shame, doesn’t it?

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