Rory McIlroy’s largest supporters perpetually have his again.
Within the wake of a crushing playoff loss to Billy Horschel on Sunday within the BMW PGA Championship, the four-time main winner shared a heartfelt second spouse Erica Stoll and their 4-year-old daughter, Poppy.
In footage shared on the DP World Tour’s X account, McIlroy could be seen holding Poppy earlier than Stoll — whom he filed for divorce from earlier this yr earlier than a shocking reversal — leaned in for a kiss.
McIlroy, 35, misplaced to Horschel, 37, on the second playoff gap at Wentworth Membership in England, with the American sinking an eagle putt on the 18th the win.
“I’m thrilled, excited for the way in which I performed,” Horschel instructed reporters. “I battled on the market at this time. However on the identical time, I’m a bit disenchanted. Rory is a extremely good buddy of mine, and I feel the world of him. I feel he’s a generational expertise, and I understand how shut he’s been this yr, so I can really feel for him.”
McIlory has been tormented by skilled near-misses in 2024.
The Northern Irishman fell in need of a U.S. Open title in June when he collapsed down the stretch and Bryson DeChambeau captured his second main win.
The match got here days after McIlroy scrapped his divorce from Stoll, his spouse of seven years.
Divorce docs had been initially filed in Might and said the union was “irretrievably damaged.”
An legal professional for McIlroy submitted a discover of voluntary dismissal weeks later, Web page Six reported.
“Over the previous weeks, Erica and I’ve realized that our greatest future was as a household collectively,” McIlroy mentioned in a June assertion to The Guardian. “Fortunately, we’ve got resolved our variations and look ahead to a brand new starting.”
Stoll supported McIlroy in July on the Genesis Scottish Open, the place he tied for fourth.
Regardless of lacking out on Sunday’s $1.53 million prize, McIlroy is protecting a constructive mindset with restricted alternatives remaining in 2024.
“I feel if I preserve engaged on the issues I’m engaged on on the vary, that solely bodes nicely for the long run. To work on my swing however nonetheless go on the market and have a extremely good likelihood to win, I’m happy with that,” McIlroy mentioned, per ESPN.
“I’m excited for the long run. I’m enjoying nicely. I preserve giving myself possibilities. … I simply should mud myself off and get myself prepared for the final three occasions of the yr.”