Rory McIlroy’s wife, Erica Stoll, appeared “subdued” during what seemed to be a heartfelt moment after the golf star celebrated his Masters victory on Sunday.
According to Page Six, a body language expert observed the embrace and described Stoll as “more polite and restrained” as she hugged and shed tears alongside her husband.
“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,” Judi James told the Daily Mail on April 14.
“Rory looks overwhelmed and clingy, while Erica’s response appears a little more polite, subdued and tempered,” she said.
At the same time on social media, CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis — who was rumored to have dated McIlroy following his 2024 divorce filing from Stoll — publicly congratulated the Northern Irish golfer after interviewing him, possibly contributing to Stoll’s “more polite” demeanor.
Balionis shared a photo from their interview, captioning it: “It took 17 Masters appearances, 11 years chasing the career Grand Slam, and a final round 73 this week — but Rory McIlroy has earned his Green Jacket and cemented his legacy alongside greats like Tiger, Jack, Gary, Hogan, and Sarazen.”
“What a week and a battle down to the very end.”
Her post quickly drew attention, with many commenters noting how “awkward” the interview must have been given the dynamics between all three individuals involved.
Stoll’s reserved demeanor suggested she may still be processing McIlroy’s decision to file for divorce in May 2024 and briefly move on. Court documents described the marriage as “irretrievably broken,” and around the same time, rumors linked McIlroy to CBS reporter Amanda Balionis, though neither addressed the speculation publicly.
Just a month later, McIlroy called off the divorce, filing a notice of voluntary dismissal in Palm Beach County, Florida, where he and Stoll reside. In a recent statement, he acknowledged the ongoing attention to his personal life but declined to directly respond to the rumors.
Since then, the couple — who share a 4-year-old daughter named Poppy — have kept a low profile. However, they were spotted sharing a tender moment during the Masters opening events last week.
