RORY MCILROY has released a 51-word statement after he and wife Erica called off their divorce.
The golf superstar, 35, had filed for divorce in a Florida court last month but yesterday announced that it has been voluntarily dismissed.
Northern Irishman McIlroy and Erica have been together for seven years and have a daughter called Poppy, aged four, together.
Now they are looking for a “new beginning” after revealing that the divorce was off.
McIlroy told the Guardian: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game.
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“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.”
McIlroy’s attorney Thomas Sasser filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal on his behalf on Tuesday afternoon at the Palm Beach County Courthouse.
The reasons for the previous divorce filing between him and 36-year-old Erica were not disclosed.
However, Erica was given 20 days to file a counterclaim or risk having the court grant the divorce by default.
McIlroy also asked for the couple’s prenuptial agreement to be upheld, as well as a shared parenting plan, but court documents filed yesterday now show the case has been dismissed.
Speculation arose last month that McIlroy had a fling with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, 38.
Golf fans had spotted them sharing a hug after an interview at the RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.
Meanwhile, Balionis, who is married to football coach Bryn Renner, had been pictured without her wedding ring, fuelling even more rumours.
But a close source to the two denied there was anything between them to US Weekly, and neither party commented on the conspiracy theories.
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Rory and Erica met when he overslept at the 2012 Ryder Cup and she arranged a police escort to get him to the first tee in time.
The golfer was dating Danish tennis ace Caroline Wozniacki at the time but he called off their engagement in 2014 after sending out the wedding invitations.
McIlroy started dating former PGA employee Stoll in 2015, proposing in Paris in December of that year.
They married in 2017 - joined by a star-studded guest list - and welcomed their baby daughter Poppy three years later.
Erica was in attendance at the Ryder Cup in Rome last autumn, cheering on her husband as he inspired Europe to an emphatic win over the USA.
During their time together, McIlroy has enjoyed 17 PGA Tour triumphs.
As for Erica, she was born in 1988 and raised in Irondequoit, New York, with her sister, Natalie Stoll.
She previously lived in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
There is little known about Erica's private life as she likes to stay away from the spotlight.
