Rory McIlroy has admitted he changed his mind on filing for divorce with wife Erica Stoll earlier this summer after “realising what was actually important” in his life away from the sport.
McIlroy, 35, filed for divorce with wife Erica on the eve of the US PGA at Valhalla in May.
But before the start of the season’s next major at the US Open in June, McIlroy confirmed their divorce was off the cards and that he had sorted out his differences with his wife of seven years.
Erica and Rory share a young daughter, Poppy, who was born in 2020.
In an on-course interview with McIlroy that aired this week on Patrick Kielty’s ‘Late Late Show’, the World No.3 opened up on his rollercoaster season on and off the course.
McIlroy has won three times so far this season with a successful title defence at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour followed by wins on the PGA Tour at the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry and the Wells Fargo Championship.
During those victories on the PGA Tour, which came after the announcement of his shock divorce with wife Erica, there was heavy speculation that McIlroy was building a romance with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis.
That was something McIlroy eventually shut down, before confirming he was no longer going ahead with his divorce.
In an interview with the Guardian just before the start of the US Open in June, McIlroy said: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game.”
He added: “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.”
It was yet another frustrating season for McIlroy in the majors, however, especially when missing two short putts on the closing holes at the US Open to hand the title to LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau.
That one hurt and McIlroy took a bit more time out of the game to clear his head.
Outside of the ropes, McIlroy was earlier this season urged by some of his peers to return to the PGA Tour’s board of directors to help thrash out their ongoing framework agreement with the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF), but he was eventually out-voted so did not come back.
The Northern Irishman stepped away from the PGA Tour board at the end of 2023 because he wanted to spend more time with his family and to focus on his golf game.
McIlroy later disclosed details as to why he was not let back on the PGA Tour board of directors but that he was still involved with PIF talks as a result of remaining on the PGA Tour’s transaction committee.
The Ulsterman iintends to cut down his playing schedule heavily in 2024 in a bid to spend more time with his family and to get his game in prime shape for the four majors.
McIlroy’s new TGL alongside Tiger Woods will also start up in early 2025 and that will take up plenty of his time.
Speaking to his good friend Kielty on the course during a pre-recorded interview that aired during this week’s Irish Open at Royal County Down, McIlroy explained clearing his head was key in ultimately deciding to call off his divorce with wife Erica this summer.
McIlroy told Kiety:
“I think sometimes life can get a lot and it can get too much.
“There’s been a lot going on this year, golf wise and then obviously personal wise as well.
“I had to take a little bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else.
“Golf and the business of golf had become all consuming for me for the last couple of years and I needed to take a bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me.
“Friends, family, enjoying myself, enjoying the fact you were this little boy in Holywood and you’ve grown up to be whatever it is that I am and I need to enjoy that time.”
McIlroy also spoke to Kielty about his daughter Poppy, confirming she is slowly gaining more of an interest in the game of golf.
“We got her her first real clubs for her birthday this year,” said McIlroy.
“She’s taken a little bit of interest, if she did I would be 100pc supportive but at the same time I wouldn’t mind if she did something different.
“It’s not just about being a sportsperson, there’s all the rest of it that comes with it.
“Especially in this age of social media and all the stuff you have to deal with. So, if it’s your daughter you’re trying to protect her from that as much as you can.”
McIlroy is in contention to win a second career Irish Open on his hometown links at Royal County Down this weekend.
He is currently running away with the DP World Tour Rankings as he closes in on emulating Seve Ballesteros’ feat of six Harry Vardon trophies
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