Rory McIlroy reveals texts from Tiger Woods that angered wife Erica Stoll

Jack Otway
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:04:43 +0000

Rory McIlroy has disclosed that Tiger Woods' relentless 4am workout messages left his wife Erica Stoll frustrated, according to revelations in a newly released biography.

The Northern Irish golfer, who is 14 years younger than the American legend, opened up about their close relationship in Alan Shipnuck's book, titled Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf's Most Human Superstar.

The 36-year-old defending Masters champion shared candid details about how Woods' pre-dawn training regime and subsequent text messages created tension at home, offering fresh insight into the unique bond between two of golf's biggest names.

McIlroy explained that Woods battles with insomnia, which he attributes to excessive training.

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"He struggles to sleep, which I think is an effect of over-training, so I tell him to calm down sometimes," the golfer revealed.

The 50-year-old would contact McIlroy during the early hours with messages about his gym sessions.

"He'd be texting me at four o'clock in the morning: 'Up lifting. What are you doing?'" McIlroy said.

"Erica actually got p****d off with it. He was texting me in the middle of the night and I was like, 'Tiger is in the gym'."

Despite the sleep-deprived messages, McIlroy holds Woods in the highest regard, describing him as both an idol and hero throughout his career.

"I feel pretty lucky that I've gotten to know him more intimately than some," he said in Shipnuck's book.

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The Northern Irishman spoke nine years ago about being drawn to the American's complex personality, one that has made him the icon he is today.

"He's an intriguing character because you could spend two hours in his company and see four different sides to him," he stated.

"He's thoughtful. He's smart. He can't sleep so that's all he does he reads stuff and educates himself on everything."

McIlroy praised Woods' dedication to the sport and his advocacy for fellow professionals on the PGA Tour.

McIlroy is currently at Augusta preparing to defend his Masters title, though the tournament will be missing some familiar faces this year.

When asked about the absence of both Woods and Phil Mickelson ahead of his title defence, McIlroy admitted it had weighed on his mind considerably.

"I've thought about it a lot. Honestly, I've probably thought about that more than the food," he said.

The defending champion also acknowledged the significance of the missing legends whilst remaining optimistic.

"Obviously there's two that won't be with us this year, which is a shame, but hopefully they will be with us in the future, and I'm sure they will be with us in the future," he stated.