Did Rory McIlroy call off Erica Stoll divorce over money?

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Was money a big reason why Rory McIlroy decided to call off his divorce from wife Erica Stoll? Some of his friends reportedly believe that could be the case.

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After announcing earlier this week at the U.S, Open in Pinehurst, N.C., that the divorce between the couple had been called off, many were asking what had changed since papers were filed last month.

According to a reported friend of the Northern Irishman, the reason could be financially motivated.

Speaking anonymously with the Daily Mail, the source explained how McIlroy’s potential split with Stoll could see his fortune be affected.

“Perhaps, the cold realization of exactly how much the divorce could cost him hit hard,” the source said.

“McIlroy has amassed a fortune of more than (US$350 million) and his projected earnings in his career are predicted to be more than double that figure. Surely, he didn’t want to see all that money he’s accrued diminish. It would have felt like a huge waste if millions ended up in the pockets of lawyers.”

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According to the publication, McIlroy was named Northern Ireland’s wealthiest young person for 2024.

The source added that McIlroy calling off the divorce is not indicative of how the couple feels about each other and noted that how they approach the next few months could determine how the relationship pans out.

“It’s a cooling-off period and the next six months will be telling as to whether they can properly patch up the relationship,” the Daily Mail quoted the source as saying. “There is also their three-year-old daughter Poppy to consider. Rory is a doting dad and he has strong family values.”

According to the divorce papers, which were served to Stoll by a private investigator hired by McIlroy, the golfer stated the seven-year marriage between the couple was “irretrievably broken.” The documents also stated the pair has a prenup and he was seeking split custody over three-year-old daughter Poppy.

According to reports last month, Stoll reached “a breaking point” in the relationship before divorce papers were filed.

“A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” a source told Us Weekly. “Rory was a hard person to be married to.”

McIlroy and Stoll, a former publicist, “were living very different lives the last two years with him being on the road, and eventually she had a breaking point,” the source said.

The rumour mill also ran rampant after McIlroy’s victory during last month’s PGA Championship, with the golfer suspected to be romancing CBS sports journalist Amanda Balionis.

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McIlroy and the broadcaster were “the talk of the links” after some noticed their close relationship at events over the past few weeks, according to the Daily Mail.

Balionis and former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner have not officially announced a split, but the reporter changed her user name on X earlier this year from her married moniker of Balionis Renner back to her maiden name of just Balionis. Fans noted in February that she had ceased wearing her wedding ring on TV and in posts on social media.

One report from Us Weekly did its best to shoot down any dating buzz, with a source stating McIlroy and Balionis only have a “professional relationship.”

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