Golfer Rory McIlroy calls off divorce from wife Erica Stoll in shock U-turn as he talks 'new beginnings'
Golf star Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll have made an unexpected U-turn and called off their divorce plans.
Despite laying the legal groundwork for a divorce only last month, it appears that love's not lost between the pair, who have decided to give their marriage another shot.
Rory had filed for divorce on 13 May, the day after winning the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time and just three days before the start of the US PGA Championship.
However, court records in Palm Beach County in Florida show that a “notice of voluntary dismissal” was filed on Tuesday, 11 June, and the case status is listed as “closed”.
Reflecting on the sudden turn of events, Rory told the Guardian: "There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool's game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."
The couple, who became lovebirds after their paths crossed in 2012, married in 2017 and have one child together, daughter Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, who was born in 2020.
The pair tied the knot at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland, at a star-studded ceremony attended by One Direction star Niall Horan and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, while Ed Sheeran and Stevie Wonder performed at the event.
Erica, 36, missed the typical 20-day Florida deadline to respond to Rory's legal docs, as per the Daily Mail, before it was confirmed that the pair are not divorcing.
This turnaround marks a dramatic shift in the narrative for Rory and Erica's marriage. It had previously been reported that Erica felt neglected in her relationship, echoing Rory's past affair with tennis hotshot Caroline Wozniacki.
Speculation has been rife about Rory's love life and rumours had swirled about him and CBS Sports golf reporter Amanda Balionis, who was seen without her wedding ring around the same time Rory confirmed his divorce.
When Rory's split first hit the headlines, his representatives released a statement: "Rory's desire is to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He won't be making any further comment."
Now, with another major tournament on the horizon, Rory is set to face the media spotlight once again as he aims for his fifth major title.
In the wake of his personal challenges, McIlroy managed a tied-15th finish at the Memorial Tournament from June 6-9. His next challenge is the U.S. Open, where he's scheduled to tee off at 1:14 p.m. ET on June 13 at Pinehurst No.2 in North Carolina.
