Rory McIlroy reveals why wife Erica missed his BBC SPOTY triumph

Rory McIlroy has revealed why his wife Erica Stoll and daughter Poppy missed his BBC Sports Personality of the Year triumph on Thursday night. 

The Northern Irishman finally got his hands on the prize after a stunning year which saw him win The Masters, thereby completing golf's Grand Slam, as well as the Ryder Cup.

It was an emotional evening for McIlroy, just as it was in September at Bethpage Black when he lifted the Ryder Cup after he and Erica had endured much abuse from the American fans.

He became the first golfer to win the BBC SPOTY prize since Sir Nick Faldo in 1989. McIlroy has been nominated numerous times and was runner-up to Lewis Hamilton in 2014. 

'My wife Erica, my daughter Poppy. They're what holds me together, they're my rock,' he said.

'They couldn't be here tonight, they are back in America, but I can't wait to get back to see them tomorrow and celebrate with them. I can't wait to see you, I love you.'

He also said: 'I'd like to congratulate the other finalists, I know how much hard work and dedication it takes.

'It's a pleasure just to be in this room and I feel honoured just to be a part, so congratulations.

'Look, 2025 was the year I made my dreams come true, from Augusta to the Ryder Cup and everything in between. It really has been the year that dreams are made of.

'I have a lot of people to thank, firstly the public for voting for me, but my family, my mum and dad. They sacrificed so much for me and I wouldn't be here without them. Thank you.'

Stoll's support for McIlroy in September at the Ryder Cup was vital, and not without adversity.

She had a bottle of beer thrown at her and was called a 'w****' yet she endured that without complaint and refused to let it become a distraction for the team. 

Cruel American fans chanted 'Amanda, Amanda' in order to hurt Erica and remind of the unsubstantiated rumours that follow her husband.

The barrage of abuse from a crowd became so toxic that state troopers and police dogs had to be deployed. 

The abuse directed at McIlroy included frequent shots at his relationship with Stoll, with one fan shouting 'How's your divorce going?', according to Golfweek.

In May last year, McIlroy served his wife with divorce papers at their home in Florida. His marriage with the mother of his daughter, Poppy, was 'irretrievably broken,' according to court documents.

There were even rumours that the £75million superstar had been involved with CBS Sports presenter Amanda Balionis, which McIlroy simply called 'unfortunate' and denied.

But by June last year, less than a month later, McIlroy withdrew the divorce filing. 

At one stage on Thursday, McIlroy also appeared tearful as he paid tribute to the 'inspirational' fathers of two of the young girls murdered in the Southport attacks.

Sergio Aguiar's daughter Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, and David Stancombe's daughter Elsie Dot Stancombe, 7 were among the three victims of the killings carried out by Axel Rudakubana at a Taylor Swift-themed dance workshop in July 2024, along with Bebe King, 6.

The two fathers ran the London Marathon earlier this year and received the Helen Rollason Award during the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ceremony in Salford on Thursday night.

McIlroy, one of six nominees for the main award, was asked about his daughter Poppy by Clare Balding during his interview and broke down when discussing Aguiar and Stancombe.

Speaking of his 2025 Masters triumph in April, which came after an agonising 11 year wait to clinch that final major, the Northern Irishman said: 'I didn't make it easy. When you want something so much, the obstacle becomes yourself. When you go through the heartbreaks, it makes it even sweeter.

'Being a father of a little girl, Elsie and Alice's dads are absolute heroes,' McIlroy added, as he struggled to hold back tears.

'Being a dad makes the losses easier, but it makes the good moments even more special, and to share that with Erika and Poppy... my whole family have gone through this and I could feel everyone with me that day.'