Rory McIlroy has enjoyed some unforgettable Ryder Cup moments in his career, but none more personal than the one he shared with his wife, Erica Stoll, moments after Europe’s dramatic victory at Bethpage Black.
As the celebrations erupted around the 18th green, McIlroy walked straight to Erica, who had stood steadfastly by his side throughout a turbulent week marked by heckling crowds and even an ugly incident where she was struck by a thrown drink. Cameras caught the four-time major winner leaning in close to her ear. His words were brief — just three simple ones — but they carried the weight of the entire Ryder Cup battle.
**“We did it.”**
Those three words summed up not only the triumph of Team Europe, but also the emotional resilience that McIlroy and his wife had shown together. For Erica, who had been praised by McIlroy earlier in the week for her “class and dignity” amid hostility from the New York galleries, the message was more than a celebration of victory — it was a moment of recognition.
The Northern Irishman has long credited Erica as his steadying presence, both in his career and in life away from golf. After Europe sealed the win, he chose to share that very first moment of release with her, a sign of how deeply she had been part of the battle.
McIlroy later told reporters that his wife’s strength had inspired him. “She’s very strong, very resilient, and I’m lucky to have her. What happened out there wasn’t right, but she handled it better than anyone could have,” he said.
In a Ryder Cup filled with tension, controversy, and unforgettable drama, McIlroy’s three-word comment may go down as one of the most poignant snapshots of all — a reminder that behind every champion is someone sharing the journey, the sacrifice, and, ultimately, the joy of victory.
