Rory McIlroy, Erica Stoll and Poppy attend the 2026 Masters Par 3 Contest.
Credit: Andrew Redington/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
Rory McIlroy and his spouse, Erica Stoll, welcomed Poppy in August 2020
Poppy has caddied for her dad on the annual Masters Par 3 Contest yearly since 2023
Rory has referred to as Poppy essentially the most “unbelievably polite and well-behaved little girl”
Rory McIlroy‘s daughter, Poppy, has virtually grown up on the inexperienced.
The professional golfer and his spouse, Erica Stoll — who tied the knot in 2017 — welcomed their daughter in August 2020, and he hasn’t held again about how a lot fatherhood means to him.
“There’s nothing like it in the world,” Rory advised Golfweek a month after her delivery in September 2020. “It’s probably the best part of being a human being, and I’m glad that I got to experience it.”
While Rory might have a Masters title to his identify, Poppy has turn into a scene-stealer in her personal proper — particularly in the course of the event’s beloved Par 3 Contest, the place she’s typically by his aspect.
When Rory won the Masters in April 2025, Poppy was proper there celebrating the milestone with him. Now, with the 2026 event underway, he is as soon as once more chasing a inexperienced jacket — along with his largest fan shut by.
From the inspiration behind her identify to her sweetest moments supporting her dad, this is every little thing to learn about Rory McIlroy’s daughter, Poppy.
Rory and Erica saved the information of their being pregnant a secret for a lot of months
Rory McIlroy and Erica McIlroy on the 2018 Ryder Cup Gala
Credit: Ross Kinnaird/Getty
Fans did not be taught that Rory and Erica have been anticipating till days earlier than their child woman was born. During a post-round interview, Rory confirmed that he was going to be a father “any day now” and was “just waiting for a phone call.”
“We’re about to be parents very soon, so we’re obviously super excited. Yeah, 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,” Rory stated, per Golfweek. “It’s a private matter, but we’re really excited and can’t wait for her to get here.”
As soon as the phone does ring, Rory added, “I’m out of here.”
Poppy is a Virgo
Rory McIlroy with his daughter Poppy McIlroy during the Par Three Contest prior to the 2025 Masters Tournament on April 09, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia.
Credit: Michael Reaves/Getty
Poppy Kennedy McIlroy was born on Aug. 31, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. Rory shared the happy news on Instagram alongside a black-and-white photo of the newborn holding his pinky finger.
“Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born August thirty first, 12:15pm. She is absolutely the love of our lives,” he captioned it.
Rory assured that “mother and baby are doing great” and wished a “massive thank you” to the medical employees at Jupiter Medical Center.
Rory and Erica at all times knew they needed to call their daughter after a flower
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll with their daughter, Poppy, on the Par 3 contest previous to the 2023 Masters Tournament
Credit: Andrew Redington/Getty
In his September 2020 Golfweek interview, Rory revealed that he and Erica sought inspiration from nature, particularly flowers, whereas brainstorming potential child names for his or her daughter. Rose and Iris have been robust contenders, however all through the method, they could not shake the identify, Poppy.
“We really liked [Poppy]. I have a cousin of mine; her daughter is named Poppy. We know a few other Poppies. And we just really love the name,” he stated.
Rory defined that Rose was dominated out after they realized it was too just like his mom’s identify, Rosie. A number of of his professional golf buddies, together with Alex Noren and Shane Lowry, even have daughters named Iris, and they also selected Poppy.
“We wanted to go with something that was pretty unique, maybe more common back where I’m from, but we landed on Poppy, and we loved it,” he stated.
Poppy has served as her dad’s caddie
Rory McIlroy and his daughter Poppy on the ninth gap in the course of the Par 3 Contest previous to the 2023 Masters Tournament.
Credit: Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR/Getty
Rory and Poppy have made some particular recollections on the inexperienced on the annual Masters Par 3 Contest in Augusta, Ga. The spherical is a well known household occasion — with spouses, youngsters and different kinfolk stepping in as caddies.
Poppy’s first time caddying for her dad was in 2023. She and Erica donned the competition’s conventional ensembles: white jumpsuits with “McIlroy” printed on the again.
“Always one of the best days of the year,” Rory wrote on Instagram.
In April 2025, Poppy joined her dad on the course once more, in the end stealing the highlight with an impressive putt.
While speaking to reporters on the 2026 Masters, Rory could not assist however gush about his daughter — and the way significant it has been to look at her develop up.
“She is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl,” he stated. “To give her a life that I could only dream about, that’s been the coolest thing.”
He added that Poppy’s standout putt on the 2025 Par 3 Contest sparked a deeper curiosity within the sport. “She made sure that I brought her putter up this year,” Rory stated.
Rory stated turning into a dad has put his profession in perspective
Rory McIlroy and his daughter Poppy in the course of the Par 3 Contest previous to the 2023 Masters Tournament.
Credit: Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated/Getty
Since the delivery of his daughter, Rory has had a shift in perspective in terms of his profession and future in golf. In a separate September 2020 dialog with Golfweek, Rory admitted that previously, he struggled to keep up a wholesome boundary between his dwelling life and work life. However, since Poppy’s arrival, he is been higher at drawing a line.
“It just puts things in perspective a little bit,” he stated on the subject of Poppy. “[My career] matters to me and I care about it very much, but at the same time, it makes the hard days a little easier to get over, right.”
He continued, “When I say it’s not the be-all and end-all, it’s a major championship and I’ve grown up my whole life dreaming of winning these tournaments, and that’s not going to change, but if it doesn’t quite happen, I can live with that and go home and be very happy and leave what’s happened at the golf course at the golf course.”
The household moved to the United Kingdom in 2025
Rory McIlroy, Erica Stoll and Poppy in 2025.
Credit: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile through Getty
In a May 2025 interview with Telegraph Sport, McIlroy revealed that he and his household deliberate to relocate to the U.K. as soon as their new dwelling was full.
“Straight after Augusta, we traveled over to see the house as it was going through the finishing touches,” he stated, including that it was “fun to see” the progress that had been made on their dwelling.
While chatting with The Telegraph in July 2025, Rory stated transferring was vital for his well-being after struggling to detach himself from golf whereas residing in Florida, one of many sport’s main hubs.
“There’s a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here,” he stated of the U.Okay. “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.”
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