LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Rory McIlroy is trying to win his first major championship in 10 years this week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, but the No. 2 golfer in the world has been dealing with more than just golf recently.
News reports surfaced Tuesday that McIlroy filed for divorce the day before from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll. McIlroy spoke Wednesday at his pre-tournament news conference, where a PGA Tour spokesman opened by saying McIlroy would not be commenting further on his private life.
A reporter asked McIlroy how he was doing "on a personal level," and McIlroy offered a brief response.
"I'm ready to play this week," he said.
Watch McIlroy's full news conference below
McIlroy and Stoll had a storybook meeting during the Ryder Cup in 2012, began dating two years later and were married in 2017. They have one daughter, Poppy, born in September 2020.
McIlroy has great history at Valhalla where he captured the 2014 PGA Championship -- his last major victory. He's also coming off back-to-back victories, including a five-shot win last week at the Wells Fargo Championship.
He said he's feeling confident with the state of his game.
"From a technical standpoint, some of the shots I hit last week - some of the three-quarters shots, some of the wedge shots, some of the iron shots - combined with how good I feel with the driver at the minute...that gives me a lot of confidence."
McIlroy was also asked about the recent resignation of Jimmy Dunne from the PGA Tour's policy board, and McIlroy had plenty to say. Dunne was instrumental last year in drafting the framework of an agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund in an effort to merge the Tour with rival LIV Golf.
McIlroy is growing more pessimistic about a potential merger as talks have stalled.
"I think it's a huge loss for the PGA Tour if they're trying to get this deal done and unify the game," he said. "Jimmy was basically the relationship and conduit between the PGA Tour and PIF. It's been really unfortunate that he hasn't been involved for the last few months. I think part of the reason everything is stalling at the moment is because of that."
McIlroy said his confidence level that a deal would get done was "as low as it has been" even before Dunne's resignation.
McIlroy tees off Thursday for the first round at 8:15 a.m. with Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose. They will begin on the 10th hole.