Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica at the 2023 Ryder Cup. | Photo By Brendan Moran/Getty Images
One month after filing for a divorce, Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica will not be separating, per reports.
Rory McIlroy will not be getting divorced after all.
Before last month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla, news of McIlroy’s separation from his wife Erica stunned the golf world. He filed divorce papers in a Florida court on Monday, May 13, only one day after his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.
But he has since had a change of heart, according to a report from The Guardian.
“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together,” McIlroy said to the English outlet.
“Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
He and his wife have been married for seven years and have a four-year-old daughter together, Poppy.
But thankfully for the family, McIlroy voluntarily dismissed the divorce filing before this week’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, where he hopes to snap his 10-year major championship drought. He finished runner-up to Wyndham Clark at this championship last year, but surely, the news of his family remaining together will give him a better state of mind.
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
Rory McIlroy during a Tuesday practice round ahead of the U.S. Open.
It’s also worth noting that McIlroy flew in from his South Florida residence Tuesday morning, opting to return home after the Memorial Tournament late on Sunday. Perhaps this explains why he did not go straight from Muirfield Village to Pinehurst No. 2.
He also looked like he had a pep in his step upon his arrival, as he addressed the media at 11:30 a.m. ET on Tuesday.
“Excited to be back,” McIlroy said.
“I really enjoyed Pinehurst last time. We were here in 2014. Just got in, so I’m looking forward to seeing the golf course this afternoon.”
McIlroy tied for 23rd at Pinehurst No. 2 in 2014, when Martin Kaymer obliterated the field. He then went on to win The Open and the PGA Championship later that summer.
Nevertheless, perhaps this positive development will lead to that elusive fifth major championship. McIlroy said he feels “close” to winning it, and he has had plenty of close calls in recent years, including at the U.S. Open.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.
