As Rory McIlroy played on the links at Carnoustie in Scotland at this week’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, he was cheered on by a friendly face behind the ropes.
Erica Stoll was photographed watching McIlroy shoot a 69 during what she called a “perfect day” at the multi-course event.
This comes about two weeks after Stoll and McIlroy were photographed kissing at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in Surrey.
The Irishman had to settle for second place that week behind American Billy Horschel and was filmed hugging his four-year-old daughter Poppy before giving Erica a kiss.
It was all captured in a video posted on social media by the DP World Tour Twitter account, with the caption: “Losing is hard.” Family makes it easier.’
Erica Stoll (right), the wife of Rory McIlroy (left), watched as her husband played Carnoustie.
It’s a positive sign for their relationship after McIlroy reportedly considered divorce this year.
It’s a sign in the right direction for the couple after they briefly considered splitting earlier this year.
The couple made the surprising decision to call off the divorce less than a month after Stoll, 36, received the papers at her home in Jupiter, Florida, informing her that McIlroy wanted to end their marriage.
McIlroy addressed the speculation in a statement to The Guardian just days before the first round of this summer’s US Open at Pinehurst, in which he finished runner-up.
‘There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to every rumor is nonsense,” McIlroy said.
‘Over the past few weeks, Erica and I realized that our best future was to be a united family.
“Fortunately, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
But Stoll wasn’t the only person McIlroy shared a moment with on the famous Scottish links. McIlroy was seen walking and talking to Saudi PIF Governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
The Irishman was also seen laughing with Saudi PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan.
Al-Rumayyan had met earlier in the day with Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour.
The two were photographed laughing, although it is unclear what was being talked about.
Al-Rumayyan had spent time earlier in the day with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan at a Pro Am event they participated in.
Monahan and Al-Rumayyan embraced, a sign that golf’s civil war may be coming to a peaceful end after a protracted 16 months of negotiations..
On Wednesday, McIlroy hinted that there was progress on a deal between the two sides, saying: “There’s no better place than the home of golf to try to get everyone together and talk.”
“I think it’s a great thing and a good sign that Jay and Yasir are going to play together. And obviously you have a pretty large LIV contingent that is playing in this event.
“I think what Johann Rupert (Dunhill owner), the man who runs this event, is trying to do is just bring the golf world together a little bit. If we need to be forced together in some way, he’s trying to do it.” .
‘I think it will be good. “It is certainly a step in the right direction.”
McIlroy also said he hopes there will be a solution by the end of the year, adding: “It’s October, so we’re waiting three months to get something done.”