Professional golfer Rory McIlroy put on an incredibly dapper display Tuesday night, when he and his wife, Erica Stoll, stepped out at a Ryder Cup welcome dinner in New York—just months after revealing that they were quitting the U.S. in order to return to the U.K. full time.
McIlroy, 36, is one of 12 players representing Europe against a team from the United States in the historic tournament, which kicks off Friday, Sept. 26 at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, NY.
However, the Ryder Cup festivities began in earnest last night, when the tournament’s players—including U.S. team stars Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, J.J. Spaun, and Scottie Scheffler—and their loved ones attended a glittering event held at Hempstead House in Sands Point, NY.
McIlroy arrived at the soiree hand in hand with Stoll, with whom he has built a custom mansion just outside of London. He revealed earlier this year that the home will serve as their primary residence.
It marks a major change for McIlroy and his spouse, who—when the last Ryder Cup was played in 2023—were residing full time in Jupiter, FL, where the couple own a sprawling mansion that they purchased from golfing legend Ernie Els for $11 million in 2017.
While records indicate that the duo still own the nine-bedroom abode in Florida, McIlroy revealed in April that they were busy completing work on a custom property in Wentworth, Surrey, explaining during a press conference that they had traveled to visit the dwelling during a brief trip to the U.K. and Northern Ireland.
“We first went to London with Erica and [our daughter] Poppy to see our new home that we’re building and we made the trip over to Belfast to see a few other people that are important to us,” McIlroy said, according to NBC Sports.
“Just to be with them, to be with Erica and Poppy and my mom and dad. To see Michael Bannon, my lifelong coach, and spend a bit more time with Harry [Diamond] and his wife. [To] celebrate with the people that have been part of this whole thing for my entire career was absolutely amazing.”
Though he did not elaborate further on what the home would be used for, it was later reported by British outlet The Telegraph that McIlroy and Stoll were planning a move back to the U.K. on a permanent basis.
McIlroy then appeared to confirm these reports in July, when he opened up about how his relocation had given a serious boost to his golfing game.
“We came back a few weeks ago and moved into our new home in Wentworth and been since trying to settle in, and it’s amazing what two weeks of a bit of detachment can do for you, and sitting there being with your own thoughts for a while,” he told The Telegraph ahead of the Genesis Scottish Open.
“It’s been nice to have this time to reflect and also to rekindle my excitement and enthusiasm for the rest of the year. Obviously, we have this week in Scotland and then a massive week next week [for the Open] in Portrush.”
He went on to explain that he feels able to detach from the game in the U.K., while suggesting that he struggled to “get away from” golf while living in Florida—where his home was located in one of the most iconic golfing hubs in the world.
Over the years, Jupiter has been home to a huge number of professional golfers, who are drawn to the location by its many resplendent courses, as well as the state’s lack of income tax. However, McIlroy hinted that he’d grown tired of being constantly surrounded by the game at every turn.
“There’s a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here,” he said of his new home country. “You play PGA Tour golf for the first 25, 30 weeks of the year, and you need to completely get away from it—because this world of golf can become all-encompassing.
“In this last fortnight, I felt like I could detach and sort of hide in a way. I needed that. My game needed that.”
McIlroy has not yet confirmed whether he plans to hold on to his Florida mansion, which is now believed to be worth around $18 million. However, it currently remains off-market, according to Realtor.com®.
As for his new home in the U.K., McIlroy and Stoll are reported to have purchased the land on which their opulent abode now sits back in 2023—and are understood to have spent millions of dollars on the construction of their dream home.
That work continued even after McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll in 2024, although he quickly called off the split just a few weeks later.
The home was completed in late May—just in time for the family to plan their move around McIlroy’s intense tournament schedule, which has seen him competing in various locations across the globe within the past few months, from the Masters in Augusta, GA, to the Travelers Championship in Scotland.
While his move to the U.K. may have improved his performance on the golf course, it remains to be seen how it might impact his estimated $280 million fortune, which he was able to amass without the burden of income tax, which is not required of full-time Florida residents.
This year alone, McIlroy has won millions—netting a $4.2 million prize after winning the Masters, not long after winning $4.6 million at the Players Championship.
Typically, golfers who reside full time in the U.S. must pay income taxes on all taxable income that is earned worldwide, according to H&R Block. They are also subject to state income tax if they live in a state that requires it.
“Consequently, many golfers claim residency in Florida due to its lack of a state income tax,” H&R Block notes.
Indeed, McIlroy is one of a long line of golfers who have made their home in Florida—specifically in Jupiter, which has become something of a haven for the wealthiest and most successful players in the sport over the past three decades.
His property is located inside the iconic Bear’s Club community, a gated neighborhood filled with high-end homes, all of which surround the club’s stunning private golf course.
Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who has served as something of a mentor to McIlroy, founded the club with his wife, Barbara, in 1999, having moved to the area in 1966.
Over the years, the club has seen an astonishing number of professional golfers sign up for memberships, including McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Cantlay, all of whom are understood to have turned to Nicklaus for guidance in their careers over the years.
McIlroy’s home is just a four-minute drive from the main clubhouse and offers sweeping views of the club’s stunning course.
