‘I don’t like the sun’: Rory McIlroy finally grants Erica Stoll’s long-standing wish after Masters win

Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, are gearing up for a big change as they plan to make the UK their permanent home after the US Open in June. The couple, along with their daughter Poppy, have been in the process of building a stunning home in Wentworth, Surrey, and are set to officially move in following the prestigious tournament at Oakmont in Pennsylvania.For the past few years, the McIlroys have been living in a magnificent 13,000-square-foot estate in Jupiter, Florida, nestled within the exclusive Bear’s Club, a golf community founded by Jack Nicklaus. McIlroy bought the property in 2017 from golfing legend Ernie Els. The luxurious mansion spans 2.4 acres and boasts 10 bathrooms, nine bedrooms, an infinity pool, a games room, tennis court, home theater, recording studio, and a state-of-the-art gym. The property even features a six-car garage and is just a stone's throw away from the tees for one of the golf course’s holes. Despite the stunning location, Erica, a native of upstate New York, had never been fond of the intense Florida heat. As McIlroy shared in the Netflix docuseries Full Swing, "If it was up to her [Stoll], she wouldn't move to England straightaway, but she definitely wants to spend more time there.” Stoll herself remarked, “I really don’t like the sun,” during a casual encounter with German golfer Martin Kaymer at a Starbucks in Florida, prompting Kaymer to joke, "Your state’s called the Sunshine State, right?" This distaste for the heat, combined with a desire for a cooler climate, led the couple to make the decision to move to the UK permanently. As reports suggest, the family plans to maintain their Florida residence for McIlroy's PGA Tour commitments but will make the UK their primary base going forward. The McIlroys’ decision comes on the heels of a highly successful season for Rory, culminating in his Masters victory in April, which completed his career Grand Slam. McIlroy had spoken of his excitement to visit their new home shortly after the victory: "Straight after Augusta, we travelled over to see the house as it was going through the finishing touches,” McIlroy told The Telegraph. “It was fun to see and we could have stayed in it, but we wanted to get over to Holywood,” referencing their home in Northern Ireland. The McIlroys’ journey has not been without its ups and downs. Last year, the couple faced a turbulent period when McIlroy briefly filed for divorce, only to withdraw the papers soon after. This was followed by rumors of a relationship between McIlroy and CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis, which were neither confirmed nor addressed by the parties involved. Despite these challenges, the couple appears to be on solid ground again, with the move to the UK symbolizing a fresh start for the family.McIlroy, fresh off completing his career Grand Slam with a Masters win, now turns his focus to the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, a course where he’s won four times. After that, he’ll head to Oakmont for the US Open, a challenging course he’s only played once. The year’s final major takes him home to Northern Ireland for The Open at Royal Portrush, where he’s long dreamed of winning.