Rory McIlroy, girlfriend Erica Stoll appear together at Irish Open

Rory McIlroy is happy in his new relationship, and he’s letting the world know it.

In an interview with the London Times Magazine, McIlroy acknowledged he’s dating PGA of America employee Erica Stoll — albeit without mentioning her by name.

“I have met someone new,” McIlroy told the Times. “She doesn’t play golf, but she is involved with golf. I have known her for three years and we are good friends. If everything off the golf course is good, it allows you to be better on it as well.”

While McIlroy didn’t name drop in the Times interview, the world No. 1 did bring Stoll to the final round of the Irish Open on Sunday, where, as tournament host, he presented the trophy to winner Soren Kjeldsen. Stoll was wearing a hooded jacket and sunglasses, walking hand-in-hand with McIlroy.

The couple first met in 2012, when Stoll, who was working at the Ryder Cup in Chicago, arranged for an emergency escort for McIlroy so he could make his Sunday singles match tee time after he overslept. They’ve been linked together for months, with Irish tabloids reporting the couple spent New Year’s Eve together on the Emerald Isle. The pair also had dinner in April in Rochester, N.Y.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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