Golf idol Tiger Woods reportedly angered Erica Stoll with his late-night messaging
08:38, 10 Apr 2026Updated 08:40, 10 Apr 2026
Erica Stoll was said to be unhappy with Rory McIlroy’s late-night messages with Tiger Woods(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll reportedly grew frustrated when Tiger Woods repeatedly messaged her husband late at night. A new book claims Woods, who has often struggled to sleep, would send the Northern Irish star a flurry of questions during the early hours.
Alan Shipnuck’s biography, Rory: The Heartache and Triumph of Golf’s Most Human Superstar, claims Woods would often be in the gym at four in the morning and would subsequently message McIlroy, who is currently competing at the Masters as defending champion.
“He struggles to sleep, which I think is an effect of over-training, so I tell him to calm down sometimes,” McIlroy said of Woods in 2017, according to Shipnuck’s book, via the Daily Mail.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK! All the best sports news and much more on our dedicated Facebook page
“He’d be texting me at four o’clock in the morning: ‘Up lifting. What are you doing?’ 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.'”
Woods and McIlroy have maintained a close friendship over the years. Their competitive rivalry at major championships, on the PGA Tour, and in the Ryder Cup has lasted for more than two decades.
READ MORE: Rory McIlroy’s Masters display forces confession from helpless friendREAD MORE: Bryson DeChambeau shows true colours after hitting Masters patron with errant shot
“I’m drawn to him, yeah,” McIlroy said of Woods in 2017. “He’s an intriguing character because you could spend two hours in his company and see four different sides to him. He’s thoughtful. He’s smart. He can’t sleep, so that’s all he does – he reads stuff and educates himself on everything.”
Their connection strengthened further after Woods was involved in a car crash in 2021, which resulted in serious injuries. During Woods’ recovery, McIlroy visited his friend and offered support.
The partnership between the two golfers also extends to business, as they are co-founders of TMRW Sports. That venture led to the creation of TGL, an indoor golf league that has recently gained significant popularity.
Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, the brains behind the TGL(Image: 2025 Mike Ehrmann/TGL)
“He has been an idol and a hero of mine over the years, and I feel pretty lucky that I’ve gotten to know him more intimately than some,” McIlroy said of Woods in 2022, according to Shipnuck.
“And he is so passionate about what we’re doing. He realises that the PGA Tour gave him a platform to build his brand and let him be who he is, and he has tremendous respect for the people who have come before us.
“Having his influence and having his counsel, not just myself but all of the players on the PGA Tour, he’s a great advocate to have, and it’s awesome to be doing these things with him. I have to pinch myself pretty much every day that I’m in this position.”
Recently, however, Woods has faced fresh challenges off the course. On March 27, he was detained by police after flipping his car while trying to overtake a truck and trailer on Jupiter Island in Florida. Woods was arrested and charged with driving under the influence.
Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been friends for over 20 years(Image: David Cannon/Getty Images)
The five-time Masters champion was debating whether to play at Augusta this year before the accident, but instead announced that he would be stepping away from the sport to focus on his health and recovery.
Speaking about the incident for the first time, Woods wrote on X: “I know and understand the seriousness of the situation I find myself in today.
“I am stepping away for a period of time to seek treatment and focus on my health. This is necessary in order for me to prioritise my wellbeing and work toward lasting recovery.”
Watch The Masters with Sky’s Ultimate TV bundle
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more
Coverage of The Masters gets underway on April 6 and golf fans can watch it live with Sky’s Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle. This includes 135 channels, nine from Sky Sports, plus HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu.