Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, welcomed Poppy in August 2020
NEED TO KNOW
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Poppy has caddied for her dad at the annual Masters Par 3 Contest every year since 2023
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Rory has called Poppy the most "unbelievably polite and well-behaved little girl"
Rory McIlroy's daughter, Poppy, has practically grown up on the green.
The pro golfer and his wife,Erica Stoll— who tied the knot in 2017 — welcomed their daughter in August 2020, and he hasn't held back about how much fatherhood means to him.
“There's nothing like it in the world,” Rory toldGolfweeka month after her birth in September 2020. “It's probably the best part of being a human being, and I'm glad that I got to experience it.”
While Rory may have a Masters title to his name, Poppy has become a scene-stealer in her own right — especially during the tournament's beloved Par 3 Contest, where she's often by his side.
When Rorywon the Mastersin April 2025, Poppy was right there celebrating the milestone with him. Now, with the 2026 tournament underway, he's once again chasing a green jacket — with his biggest fan close by.
From the inspiration behind her name to her sweetest moments supporting her dad, here's everything to know about Rory McIlroy's daughter, Poppy.
Rory and Erica kept the news of their pregnancy a secret for many months
Fans didn't learn that Rory and Erica were expecting until days before their baby girl was born. During a post-round interview, Rory confirmed that he was going to be a father “any day now” and was “just waiting for a phone call.”
“We're about to be parents very soon, so we're obviously super excited. Yeah, we've been sharing the news with friends and family, obviously, but I didn't think it was something that I really particularly needed to share out here,” Rory said, perGolfweek. “It's a private matter, but we're really excited and can't wait for her to get here."
As soon as the phone does ring, Rory added, “I'm out of here.”
Poppy is a Virgo
Poppy Kennedy McIlroy was born on Aug. 31, 2020, in Jupiter, Fla. Rory shared the happy news onInstagramalongside a black-and-white photo of the newborn holding his pinky finger.
"Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born August 31st, 12:15pm. She is the absolute love of our lives,” he captioned it.
Rory assured that “mother and baby are doing great” and wished a “massive thank you” to the medical staff at Jupiter Medical Center.
Rory and Erica always knew they wanted to name their daughter after a flower
In his September 2020Golfweekinterview, Rory revealed that he and Erica sought inspiration from nature, specifically flowers, while brainstorming potential baby names for their daughter. Rose and Iris were strong contenders, but throughout the process, they couldn't shake the name, Poppy.
“We really liked [Poppy]. I have a cousin of mine; her daughter is named Poppy. We know a few other Poppies. And we just really love the name,” he said.
Rory explained that Rose was ruled out after they realized it was too similar to his mother's name, Rosie. A few of his pro golf buddies, including Alex Noren and Shane Lowry, also have daughters named Iris, and so they decided on Poppy.
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“We wanted to go with something that was pretty unique, maybe more common back where I'm from, but we landed on Poppy, and we loved it,” he said.
Poppy has served as her dad's caddie
Rory and Poppy have made some special memories on the green at the annual Masters Par 3 Contest in Augusta, Ga. The round is a well-known family event — with spouses, children and other relatives stepping in as caddies.
Poppy's first time caddying for her dad was in 2023. She and Erica donned the contest's traditional ensembles: white jumpsuits with “McIlroy” printed on the back.
"Always one of the best days of the year," Rory wrote onInstagram.
In April 2025, Poppy joined her dad on the course again, ultimately stealing the spotlight with animpressive putt.
Whilespeaking to reportersat the 2026 Masters, Rory couldn't help but gush about his daughter — and how meaningful it's been to watch her grow up.
“She is the most unbelievably polite and respectful and well-behaved little girl,” he said. “To give her a life that I could only dream about, that's been the coolest thing.”
He added that Poppy's standout putt at the 2025 Par 3 Contest sparked a deeper interest in the game. “She made sure that I brought her putter up this year,” Rory said.
Rory said becoming a dad has put his career in perspective
Since the birth of his daughter, Rory has had a shift in perspective when it comes to his career and future in golf. In a separate September 2020 conversation withGolfweek, Rory admitted that in the past, he struggled to maintain a healthy boundary between his home life and work life. However, since Poppy's arrival, he's been better at drawing a line.
“It just puts things in perspective a little bit,” he said on the topic of Poppy. “[My career] matters to me and I care about it very much, but at the same time, it makes the hard days a little easier to get over, right.”
He continued, “When I say it's not the be-all and end-all, it's a major championship and I've grown up my whole life dreaming of winning these tournaments, and that's not going to change, but if it doesn't quite happen, I can live with that and go home and be very happy and leave what's happened at the golf course at the golf course.”
The family moved to the United Kingdom in 2025
In a May 2025 interview withTelegraph Sport, McIlroy revealed that he and his family planned torelocate to the U.K.once their new home was complete.
“Straight after Augusta, we traveled over to see the house as it was going through the finishing touches,” he said, adding that it was "fun to see" the progress that had been made on their home.
While speaking toThe Telegraphin July 2025, Rory said moving was necessary for his well-being after struggling to detach himself from golf while living in Florida, one of the sport's major hubs.
"There's a detachment from the sort of week-in, week-out grind when you get back over here," he said of the U.K. "You play PGA Tour golf for the first 25, 30 weeks of the year, and you need to completely get away from it — because this world of golf can become all-encompassing."
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Rory McIlroy and his wife, Erica Stoll, welcomed Poppy in August 2020 NEED TO KNOW Poppy has caddied for her dad a...
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