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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Kevin Taylor

Rory McIlroy ready to ditch BMW Championship with wife Erica expecting couple's first child


Rory McIlroy is just three shots off the lead going into the final round at the BMW Championship on the PGA Tour.

But the 31-year-old has more important things to focus on this weekend - as his wife Erica Stoll is due to give birth to the couple's first child.

The Golf Channel's Steve Sands revealed the news yesterday during a broadcast of the third round of the tournament in Illinos, telling fans that a baby girl is due "any day now".

After finishing his round yesterday, McIlroy confirmed the news.

He said: "I'm just waiting for a phone call.

"I was waiting for a phone call last week and it didn’t come, and then (McIlroy’s caddy) Harry (Diamond) has been keeping his phone in his pocket just to make sure, but nothing as of yet.

"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."

McIlroy, 31, married American Erica at a lavish reception at Ashworth Castle in Mayo in 2017.

The Holywood man met Erica Stoll when she was working for the PGA of America.

And Erica famously helped out McIlroy when the four-time major winner overslept and nearly missed his tee time at the 2012 Ryder Cup. They started dating in 2015.

The news might explain why McIlroy admitted last week that he was struggling to focus on the course and find his best form after a poor run of tournaments.

He said: "This is going to sound really bad, but I feel like the last few weeks, I've just been going through the motions."

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