Rory McIlroy returns to mansion shared with Erica Stoll just hours after US Open agony

Rory McIlroy narrowly missed out on ending his decade-long wait for a major championship victory at the U.S. Open in North Carolina on Sunday, only to return home to Florida within hours. McIlroy, who last won a major in 2014, was edged out by Bryson DeChambeau by a single stroke after a dramatic final round.

Despite starting three shots behind DeChambeau, McIlroy put on an impressive performance and took a two-shot lead with five holes remaining. However, three bogeys, including a crucial miss from inside three feet at the par-four 16th, cost him the title. This marked the first time McIlroy missed from that range in 497 attempts this season. Another short miss at the 18th hole dashed his hopes of forcing a playoff, allowing DeChambeau to clinch the title with a par minutes later.

Visibly frustrated, McIlroy left the Pinehurst course almost immediately, and his private jet was later tracked landing in Florida, where he returned to his home in Jupiter. This mansion is shared with his wife, Erica Stoll. The couple’s relationship had been under scrutiny recently after McIlroy filed for divorce in Florida last month, ending their seven-year marriage, citing an “irreversibly broken” relationship. His communications team had confirmed the filing, emphasizing his wish for a respectful and amicable process without further public comments.

However, in a surprising turn, McIlroy revealed just before the U.S. Open that he and Stoll had decided to cancel their divorce proceedings, choosing instead to work on their relationship. In a statement to The Guardian, McIlroy addressed recent rumors about his personal life, describing responding to each one as futile. He confirmed that he and Stoll had resolved their differences, stating, “Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.” The couple, who married in 2017, have a three-year-old daughter, Poppy, born in August 2020.