Days before teeing off in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Rory McIlroy has filed for divorce from his wife, Erica.

According to TMZ Sports, Rory McIlroy lodged the paperwork in Florida on Monday. The couple tied the knot in 2017 and share a daughter, born in 2020. McIlroy first encountered Erica in 2012 during a Ryder Cup event where she was working. They began dating after McIlroy ended his engagement with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014. Erica has been spotted at various events over the years, notably caddying for McIlroy in the 2023 Masters Par 3 Contest.

At 35 years old, McIlroy heads into the PGA Championship as one of the favourites after clinching consecutive titles at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans and the Wells Fargo Championship this past weekend.

"I really gained some confidence," McIlroy stated after winning the Wells Fargo Championship, as reported by ESPN. "My golf swing feels much more comfortable than before. So heading to a venue next week where I've previously won feels like the stars are aligning a little bit. But I still have a lot of golf to play and many great players to compete against next week. I'm entering the next major of the year feeling really good about my game."

Rory McIlroy is chasing his first major victory since 2014. Currently ranked No. 2 in the Official World Golf Ranking and a four-time major champion, McIlroy hasn't won a major event since the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla, the same course hosting this year's PGA Championship. McIlroy claimed victory in that major after winning his previous two starts in The Open Championship and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, becoming the last player to achieve this feat.

Could McIlroy be set for a repeat at Valhalla, 10 years later?

"I've been saying this for the past few years, but I'm a much better player now than I was back then," McIlroy remarked. "I haven't had the major titles to back that up, but I've had wins and achieved everything else there is to in the game since 2014. The only thing left is to secure another major. A win like this leading up to the PGA Championship next week is excellent preparation for that."