Rory McIlroy used private investigator to initiate divorce with Erica Stoll

Rory McIlroy's divorce papers were served to his former wife Erica Stoll by a private investigator , according to court documents . McIlroy, a four-time major winner, filed for divorce and the enforcement of a prenuptual agreement on May 13, following his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

This comes as court filings in Palm Beach County describe the marriage to Stoll as "irretrievably broken."

The 35-year-old golfer signed the papers digitally on May 9, and the divorce was initiated the following Monday. According to documents filed on May 13, private investigator Carl Woods, a former police officer in Palm Beach County since 1987, served the divorce papers to Stoll at the McIlroy family home in The Bear's Club at 10.30am.

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Stoll has 20 days to file a written response to her husband's petition with the circuit court clerk, or risk losing the case. The Belfast Telegraph reports that Stoll has not yet responded.

McIlroy has been adamant that his focus remains on triumphing in tournaments following the announcement of his divorce. He secured a T12 finish at the most recent major, the PGA Championship.

A source confided to People: "He's just trying to find himself, focus and get back to winning. [He] went through such a winning phase and hasn't done much in the last five-ish years."

The decade-long wait for another major victory by McIlroy has sparked considerable debate regarding the reasons behind his shortfall. Paul McGinley, his former Ryder Cup captain , has posited on the Golf Channel that the prolonged drought could be attributed to a more competitive field and mental challenges.

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"There are two issues as to why he is not the player he was back then when it comes to major championships," McGinley analyzed. "The fields are stronger now. Back then, he was a young guy forging his way, and his elbows were at their pointiest. It was really a case of, 'I am on a march to be the top player in the game, so get out of my way.' He had a clear vision. As you get there and climb the mountain, can you stay there? He has done that in PGA Tour events where his win ratio of 10 per cent is fantastic compared to anyone else. Even Scottie Scheffler has only a win ratio of 8 per cent."

McGinley, aged 57, carried on: "But there is no doubt that there is a psychological build-up from not getting over the line in major championships since he hasn't circumnavigated yet. I say yet because if he gets it once, I feel - maybe not - that there are certainly another three or four majors in Rory McIlroy . It is all about getting the first one. You would have to think that a golf course like this, that he has won on before, is the kind of thing that could ignite him."

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