Rory McIlroy, the four-time Major champion, has withdrawn his application for divorce from his wife Erica, a petition he previously submitted to a Florida court in May. This happened right after he won the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time, just days prior to the US PGA Championship. In Florida’s Palm Beach County, court documents now indicate that the request was voluntarily withdrawn, marking the case as “closed”.
Speaking with The Guardian, McIlroy confessed: “Unwanted speculation has been surrounding my personal life of late. Engaging with each piece of gossip would be misguided. Over the recent weeks, however, Erica and I recognised that being together as a family was our optimal future. I am grateful that we have managed to settle our issues and anticipate a fresh beginning.”
The couple first crossed paths in 2012 during the Ryder Cup where Erica was employed by the PGA of America. In an interesting turn of events, she played a crucial role in Rory reaching the golf course on time after he misread his tee time one Sunday. Although arriving with scant time to spare, McIlroy triumphed over Keegan Bradley which contributed to Europe’s ‘Medinah Miracle’, where they managed to retain the trophy despite a major deficit.
Having wedded in 2017, the couple share a daughter, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, born in 2020. McIlroy opted to keep mum on the matter at the US PGA Championship at Valhalla, where he finished 12th. However, his demeanour seemed visibly more at ease during his pre-competition press session at Pinehurst.
As the world’s third-best golfer, McIlroy is set to partner with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler and US PGA winner Xander Schauffele for the first stages of the upcoming third major of the year.