Golf reporter Amanda Balionis has shared a cryptic Instagram post about connecting with people after Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were spotted enjoying time together at the Olympics.
McIlroy and his wife are currently in Paris, where the 35-year-old is representing Ireland in the Olympic golf event at Le Golf National, alongside Shane Lowry. The couple have been spotted enjoying the Olympic action, watching Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in tennis action against Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.
The four-time major winner and his wife have recently made headlines after McIlroy announced they were divorcing, only to later call off the proceedings as the couple give their relationship another shot. In the lead up to the U. S. Open, McIlroy’s personal life was thrust into the spotlight when he discussed his divorce plans, amidst rumours of a romantic link with Balionis. Speculation grew as the pair shared a jovial interview, as Balionis was seen without her wedding ring. However, any rumours were put to bed when McIlroy and Stoll halted their divorce proceedings.
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Since then, Balionis has posted several cryptic messages on Instagram, leading some to believe there may be a hidden meaning related to McIlroy. Her latest post, a collection of July highlights, includes a message about connecting through humour and enjoying laughter with others.
“Cherish the gift of humor. Life doesn’t need to be so gloomy. Spirituality doesn’t need to be so serious and somber. Work doesn’t need to be that way either. Learn to see the humor in life. Look for it. Find it. Enjoy it. Surround yourself with people who like to laugh,” the post read.
“Being around people who laugh can open us up to the power of humor in our own lives. Laughter can become contagious. There I something magnetic, something healing, about being around people who let themselves laugh often.”
McIlroy opened up about the swirling rumours concerning his private life in the build-up to his disappointing performance at Pinehurst No. 2, where he lost out to Bryson DeChambeau after bogeying three of the final four holes. But he steered clear of delving into specifics regarding his relationships.
“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy remarked. “Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”
McIlroy wrapped up the first round of the Olympic tournament tied for sixteenth place at three-under-par. Meanwhile, The Open champion Xander Schauffele is vying to retain his gold medal, finishing the first round tied for second on six-under-par. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is out in front, leading into the second round on eight-under-par.
