Rory McIlroy is eyeing up huge change to satisfy loyal wife
Golfer Rory McIlroy finally pulled on the Green Jacket in Augusta on Sunday and now he is going to reward his loyal wife erica stoll, mother to the couple's four-year-old daughter Poppy, after they were bound for the divorce courts, citing an 'irretrievably broken' union.
The couple dramatically U-turned on the decision a month later, saying differences had been 'resolved' and they welcomed 'a new beginning'.
On Sunday, that new beginning began in earnest - with Erica, 37, who's been stoically by her husband's side on golf courses around the world during the fragile rebuilding of their marriage, now apparently keen on re-setting their relationship far from the 'stifling' Florida golfing community, with a move to the UK on the cards.
All good: Rory McIlroy and wife Erica Stoll pictured with their daughter Poppy
Speaking out: Erica has been frank about how life in Florida has not suited her
It's become clear since that city girl Erica has been itching to start afresh, away from the Florida's resoundingly Republican east coast - President Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate is just 30 minutes south of the couple's palatial home.
So, with the one trophy that has eluded Rory now in his silverware cabinet, could Erica finally get to call the shots on where the family-of-three call home, as reward for her loyalty in the face of both that stinging divorce statement and unproven rumors of Rory's close friendship with a sports reporter.
The 'new beginning' the couple alluded to in their 'back-on' statement in June 2024 could be a new-build home on UK soil, thousands of miles away from the cliquish Sunshine State community where the couple currently reside.
In Netflix's golfing series Full Swing, Rory was candid about his wife's desire to escape Florida's sweltering summers, saying: 'If it was up to her [Erica], she wouldn't move to England straightaway, but she definitely wants to spend more time there.'
German golfer Martin Kaymer, chatting to Rory about his wife's hatred of the Florida weather, revealed how Erica once told him during a chance meeting in a local Starbucks 'I really don't like the sun' - Kaymer revealed that he joked back: '"Your state's called the Sunshine State, right?"'
And another fellow player, JJ Spaun, has also hinted at the fact that Rory and Erica could move to the UK - and be just a short flight from the close-knit Holywood community that Rory left behind to pursue global sporting stardom.
Speaking on the Fore Play podcast, U.S. golfer Spaun said after he had been defeated by Rory in the Players Championship, the golfing great had hinted at a permanent London base as he and Erica continue to try and re-find the spark in their relationship.
Spaun said: 'He's super cool. We were talking about the UK. I know he's Northern Irish, but I asked him if he ever hangs out in London. Because my wife has got a really good friend that lives out there and loves going there.'
He continued: 'I asked him about that, and he said, "Oh yeah, I'm building a house out there". He kept it really friendly and light, and then we chatted a lot until the back nine, and that was it.'
British home? Could the couple now swap their Florida home for a London base
At Augusta on Sunday, New Yorker Erica played the supportive spouse as she posed with her husband and their four-year-old daughter for official photos and congratulated him with a kiss after his victory.
However, according to one body language expert, the resounding impact of that humiliating divorce announcement is apparently still weighing heavily on Erica.
Reaching out to Erica, Rory shared an emotional hug with the mother-of-one after his victory - but Erica appeared 'more polite, subdued and tempered', said Judi James.
The body language expert explained: 'Erica uses back pats, which are firstly a gesture of gentle affection but which also usually signal a desire to break from an embrace, while Rory appears much more clingy.
'Rory looks overwhelmed and clingy, while Erica’s response appears a little more polite, subdued and tempered.'
Rory finally slayed his demons at Augusta National on Sunday to complete the career Grand Slam after 11 years of trying, pipping Justin Rose to the Green Jacket in a dramatic playoff.
After his winning birdie putt dropped to seal the victory over his Ryder Cup teammate, Rory rushed to his wife of eight years and their daughter Poppy.
Rory sent shockwaves through the sporting world when he filed for divorce from his wife last May.
