Rory McIlroy comforted by wife Erica and daughter Poppy in heartwarming embrace after yet another painful defeat

Rory McIlroy with his wife Erica and daughter Poppy after BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth
-Credit: (Image: DP World Tour)


Rory McIlroy is getting used to being the 'nearly man' in 2024 but there is one thing the Holywood superstar can rely on - his loving family. The world No.3 came up short once again in the BMW Championship at Wentworth on Sunday, losing a play-off to American Billy Horschel.

On the back of his Irish Open heartache the week before and a pretty painful season overall, McIlroy needed some comforting and his adorable daughter Poppy was on hand to do just that.

DP World Tour cameras picked up the heartwarming moment the four year old embraced her father following the final round at Wentworth and the father and daughter shared a long, warm hug.

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After that, McIlroy's wife Erica Stoll gave her husband a kiss as they attempted to take the sting off another difficult ending to a tournament for the Northern Ireland man. It was a welcome public display of affection after a difficult 12 months for the couple.

Earlier this year, Before the PGA Championship at Valhalla, it was announced the golfer had begun divorce filings from his wife. He later called off the divorce, proclaiming that he and his wife have reconciled. At the time, he released a statement: "There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool's game.

"Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."

It has been a year of turmoil on the course also. The world number three had also bogeyed three of the last four holes in June’s US Open to miss out on a first major title since 2014 and last week narrowly failed to eagle the 72nd hole to force a play-off in the Irish Open after three-putting the 17th.

“Last week was a tough one but I left there with my head held high with the way I played the last hole trying to make three,” McIlroy said after a closing 67.

“And today I played the play-off holes perfectly, really, a couple of birdies. But it just shows the standard out here. If you slip up just a little bit or don’t make a birdie on a crucial hole, someone is always waiting to take advantage of that.

“Two weeks in a row I’ve played well. Just not quite well enough. The game is testing me a little more than it has done in the past, but that’s fine.

“If someone had of said you’re going to turn up at Wentworth this week and shoot 20 under par, I’d take that. All I can do is keep showing up and trying to play the golf that I’ve been playing and sooner or later it’s going to end up in a win.

“It could have been a different year but the nice thing is there’s next year and the year after and the year after and the year after. If you think of my career as a 30-career journey, it’s only one year in a 30-year journey, and hopefully the other 29 are a little more productive or a little bit better.”

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