Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica Stoll gives birth to baby Poppy Kennedy as golf star gushes ‘she’s absolute love of our lives’

GOLFER Rory McIlroy announced the birth of his baby daughter Poppy Kennedy and gushed: 'She's absolute love of our lives'.

McIlroy, 31, confirmed the news his wife Erica Stoll gave birth on Instagram.

He wrote: "Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born August 31st, 12:15pm.

"She is the absolute love of our lives. Mother and baby are doing great.

"Massive thank you to all the staff at Jupiter Medical Center and Dr Sasha Melendy for their amazing care."

McIlroy and his American partner had kept the pregnancy a secret.

But it was let slip during a television broadcast of the third round of last month's BMW Championship.

The Golf Channel's Steve Sands revealed that a baby girl was due "any day now".

McIlroy later confirmed the news after completing his round at the end of August.

He married Stoll in April 2017 in a lavish ceremony at Ashford Castle, County Mayo.

The couple met when Erica worked for PGA, where she famously helped McIlroy make his Ryder Cup tee-time in 2012 after oversleeping.

They started dating in 2015 and got engaged that December while on holiday in Paris.

McIlroy could now miss out on the FedEx Cup - which has a £12million prize at stake - after being with his wife for the birth of their first child.

After the ex-world No1 completed the BMW Championship in Chicago, he travelled back to the couple's Florida retreat to be with Stoll for the birth of their daughter.

But McIlroy has already confirmed he will tee it up in the Tour Championship tomorrow.

The four-time Major champion scooped the £12million jackpot last year, despite starting five shots behind FedEx Cup leader Justin Thomas under the play-off ‘handicap’ system.

This time, McIlroy will start seven behind world No1 Dustin Thomas, and five behind second ranked Jon Rahm – the men who won the first two play-off events.

But as well as being on cloud nine over being a dad, he will also have the confidence of knowing he has shown it is possible to come from behind at East Lake - as he showed by romping home four shots clear of the pack last year.

McIlroy's decision to fly to Atlanta was made easier by the fact that the tournament has a Friday start, in order to finish on Labour Day, a bank holiday in America.

That meant he was able to spend four days with his wife and baby before leaving home - he did not feel he needed a practice round at a course where he has won twice before.