Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has called off his divorce from wife Erica Stoll just one month after filing papers to end their marriage.
McIlroy’s attorney Thomas Sasser filed a motion on Tuesday to voluntarily dismiss the divorce filing in Florida.
The former US Open winner expressed relief to The Guardian on Wednesday and said: “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
The couple were headed for splitsville in May with McIlroy seeking joint custody of their three-year-old daughter, Poppy, and the enforcement of a prenuptial agreement.
However, the current world number three golfer had a change of heart and said: “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together.”
The abrupt turnaround comes after speculation was fuelled by the initial divorce filing which suggested the marriage was “irretrievably broken”.
McIlroy dismissed rumours about his personal life and said responding to the public speculation would be a “fool’s game”.
Notably, just days after filing for divorce, McIlroy was spotted without his wedding ring at Valhalla Golf Club where he deflected questions about his personal life.
He finished the PGA Championship that week tied for 12th and has been ranked third in the world after the tournament.
McIlroy will head into the US Open Championship on Thursday with the renewed support of his wife whom he met after an engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki ended.
Ms Stoll met McIlroy at the Ryder Cup in 2014 when she helped him get a police escort to the golf course after he had missed his alarm.
She has since supported the 35-year-old at various events on the golf circuit, including last year’s Ryder Cup in Italy.
All eyes will be on McIlroy to see if this personal turnaround can translate into success at the US Open as he tees off on Thursday afternoon at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina.
The Northern Irish golfman last won the event in 2011 and will hope to end his nearly 10-year major championship drought.
“I’m really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything that I have achieved, whether it be season-long titles or individual tournaments or majors,” McIlroy told reporters this week.
“Obviously getting my hands on a fifth major has taken quite a while but I’m more confident than ever that I’m right there – that I’m as close as I’ve ever been.”