Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has dramatically scrapped plans to divorce his wife Erica, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal.
The Irishman’s lawyer, Thomas Sasser, filed a notice of voluntary dismissal on his behalf at the Palm Beach County courthouse on Tuesday afternoon.
Court officials responded by closing the case, meaning McIlroy, 35, will have to start all over if he decides he wants a divorce.
The stunning twist comes less than a month after Erica, 36, was served papers at the couple’s marital home in Jupiter, Florida, informing her that McIlroy wanted out of their marriage.
The May 13 petition gave Erica, the mother of McIlroy’s three-year-old daughter Poppy, twenty days to file a counterclaim or risk the court granting the divorce by default.
Rory McIlroy (left) has called off his divorce proceedings against his wife Erica Stoll (right).
However, as exclusively revealed by DailyMail.com, the blonde beauty failed to file a response or even register a lawyer before the June 2 deadline.
Her lack of urgency made more sense Tuesday when Sasser’s memorandum was filed with the court at 3:21 p.m. Tuesday, signed by McIlroy earlier in the day.
“Petitioner Rory D. McIlroy, through the undersigned counsel, hereby voluntarily and without prejudice dismisses the above case,” the report said.
Once a court receives a notice of voluntary dismissal, it considers the divorce case settled and closes the file.
Registrars have officially classified the divorce as ‘other-minded’.
Sasser — who represented Tiger Woods in his high-profile divorce from Elin Nordegren in 2010 — did not immediately respond to questions about the couple’s sudden change of heart or relationship status.
McIlroy was in Kentucky preparing for the PGA Championship when his divorce decree was delivered to Erica at their sprawling mansion.
His petition asked for shared custody of their little girl and asked for a judge to enforce a prenuptial agreement the couple signed before their 2017 wedding.
The four-time major winner was pictured on the phone at Pinehurst No. 2 ahead of the US Open
The Northern Irishman and Stoll married in 2017 (pictured at the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The Northern Irishman first met Erica at the 2012 Ryder Cup, which she was working on (photo at the opening of the 2023 Ryder Cup)
The couple share a three-year-old daughter Poppy, born in 2020 (Erica and Poppy pictured in 2021)
The paperwork handed to her by Carl Woods, a Palm Beach law enforcement agent, warned: “You have twenty calendar days after this subpoena is served on you to file a written response to the attached petition.” file with the clerk of this case. court.’
A phone call doesn’t protect you. If you want the court to hear your side of the case, you must submit your written response, including the case number and the names of the parties listed above.
“If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case and your wages, money and property may subsequently be seized without further notice from the court.”
The doctors urged Erica to consider hiring a lawyer, but she was never assigned an attorney in the lawsuits.
McIlroy has been linked in recent weeks to CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis, 38, with whom he hugged after the pair interviewed at the recent RBC Canadian Open at Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Hamilton, Ontario.
Balionis, 38, is married to football coach Bryn Renner, but was recently spotted without her wedding ring, leaving golf fans wondering how close she and McIlroy had become.
Stoll had thrown away her flashy engagement ring when she stepped out for the first time since his application
The upstate New York native made his move the day after news of the divorce broke
Stoll was later seen gassing her car last month in Jupiter, where the couple lives
News of the Northern Irishman’s turnaround comes just two days before the US Open
McIlroy, who won the major in 2011, addressed the media on Tuesday – hours before DailyMail.com broke the news
The effervescent journalist also interviewed McIlroy on May 11 at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, which he won by five shots – days before Erica received his petition.
Neither of them addressed the speculation publicly, but an unnamed source told Us Weekly that they were not dating.
When news of his divorce first broke, McIlory’s manager Sean O’Flaherty said in a statement: “Rory McIlroy’s communications team today confirmed that a divorce has been filed.”
They emphasized Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will make no further comment.”
McIlroy, whose career earnings on the PGA Tour total nearly $87 million, first met New York native Erica at the 2012 Ryder Cup while working for the PGA of America.
He missed his alarm, but she helped him make his start time in Medinah, Illinois, by arranging a police escort.
McIlroy and Stoll got together after his divorce from Caroline Wozniacki in 2014
McIlroy split from tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014, months before they got married
They started dating just months after he abruptly called off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014.
Another source close to the tour, meanwhile, claimed McIlroy was ‘super focused on golf’ as he tried to end his decade-long wait for a new major.
“Plus, he’s spent the last two years putting his blood, sweat and tears into defending the PGA against LIV golf, and it was basically for nothing,” the source told People.
“He’s trying to find himself, focus and start winning again,” the source added.