Erica Stoll’s Statement at Scottish Open Signals Major Shift in Rory McIlroy’s Marriage

Erica Stoll’s Statement at Scottish Open Signals Major Shift in Rory McIlroy’s Marriage

 

Erica Stoll was out watching her husband, Rory McIlroy, at the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club on Thursday, just weeks after confirming they had cancelled their proposed divorce.

 

The pair left the golfing world in shock ahead of the PGA Championship in May when it was announced they would be ending their marriage and filing for divorce. With their legal papers made public, their relationship was described as ‘broken’ seven years after tying the knot.

 

A month later, however, McIlroy and Stoll made a huge U-turn. The Northern Irishman confirmed in the build-up to the US Open that he and his wife were, in fact, not divorcing and would remain married.

 

“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy told The Guardian. “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.”

 

Four weeks on, Stoll was back by her husband’s side on Thursday, with McIlroy defending his title at the Scottish Open. McIlroy enjoyed a successful start to the week, carding a five-under-par 65 to leave him one off the lead.

 

Stoll was seen following her husband around the North Berwick course, watching from close by. The pair seemingly now have their relationship back on track amid Stoll’s appearance in Scotland, with McIlroy also wearing his wedding ring, having previously ditched it in June.

 

Away from his personal life, McIlroy will have been keen to focus on his on-course efforts this week as he looks to bounce back from his heartbreaking defeat at the US Open a month ago. The defending champion has not featured since the third major of the year, but looked like he had never been away after a superb start.

 

While McIlroy believes he started slowly, he was pleased to find some form in the second half of his round, which included an eagle-three at the par-five third. “I hit a couple of shots that I have not seen in practice over the next 10 days,” he told Sky Sports following his round.

 

“A bit of a reminder that golf is not as easy sometimes as I think it is. But then I started to feel good. I started to hit some good drives, good iron shots, and give myself some good chances on the back nine and felt like I left a couple out there. Overall, a good start, especially after the scrappy start through six or seven holes.”