Rory McIlroy explains reason to stay with Erica Stoll, breaks silence on U-turn

Rory McIlroy has spoken out about his decision to call off the divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, just days before the U.S. Open.

On Tuesday, it was announced that the Northern Irish golf star had “voluntarily dismissed” his petition to separate from Stoll. In doing so, McIlroy shared his thought process and what went into his decision to remain with his wife despite how the relationship between the two might have appeared just weeks ago.

“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy said, according to 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.”

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The rumours McIlroy referred to were perhaps the talk that the 35-year-old had struck up a relationship with CBS Sports presenter Amanda Balionis in the wake of his divorce filing from Stoll. Many on social media began insinuating the two were in a relationship as McIlroy, at the time, was fresh out of his relationship with Stoll and Balionis had begun using her maiden name again.

Balionis is married to former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner and had been using his last name in reference to herself on her various social media platforms. However, Balionis had recently removed all references to Renner from her accounts and was spotted without her wedding ring, which further fueled speculation that McIlroy and Balionis might be in a relationship.

At one point, body language expert Judi James stated that Balionis had McIlroy “purring” whenever the two were spotted on screen, which allowed her to get a “great interview” with “lots of chemistry every time.”

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“Many women presenters working in male-dominated sports use this technique. Non-sexual flirt rituals don’t only get some of the guys paying them full attention and even eating out of their hands but it can also put the presenter in a position of control in the interview,” James said. “Getting thoughts and snippets that the interviewee might have been more guarded about revealing.”

That said, before the announcement of McIlroy and Stoll’s divorce being called off comes days after it was revealed just how much their relationship had deteriorated. Stoll reportedly missed the 20-day deadline to respond to McIlroy’s request to the court, per the Daily Mail.

“A phone call will not protect you. Your written response including the case number given above and the names of the parties, must be filed if you want the Court to hear your side of the case,” the officer who handed Stoll the divorce papers said. “If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case, and your wages, money and property may thereafter be taken without further warning from the court.”