Picture of Rory McIlroy and wife Erica at the Olympics draws mixed reaction

Rory McIlroy was spotted watching the tennis at the Olympics with his wife Erica Stoll before going for gold with Ireland. 

McIlroy, Erica and his European Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry watched Spain's Carlos Alcaraz and Rafa Nadal lose to the American pairing of Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram in the men's tennis doubles quarterfinals on Wednesday.   

What was of particular interest to some golf fans on X was the expression on McIlroy and his wife's face. 

Neither looked particularly thrilled, it was claimed. 

"Looks like they were watching a replay of the final round of the 2024 U.S. Open," one X user wrote, referencing the Northern Irishman's dramatic collapse in the closing stages of the third men's major of the year at Pinehurst No.2. 

Another added: "Happily married." 

Whilst this person pointed out: "Why do we care about this?" 

See the picture here:

McIlroy filed for divorce a week before the PGA Championship at Valhalla. 

The court papers were lodged within hours of the 35-year-old claiming his 26th win on the PGA Tour at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte. 

Court records showed the Northern Irishman submitted a 'petition for dissolution of marriage' in Palm Beach County in Florida. 

The docs said the reason he wanted a separation was because their marriage was 'irretrievably broken'.  

McIlroy and Erica wed in 2017 and have one child together, a daughter, called Poppy. 

In June, the Guardian reported that McIlroy and Erica decided against divorce. 

The news came after weeks of speculation about his private life, with the golfer being linked romantically to Amanda Balionis. 

"There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate," the four-time major winner told the paper in June. 

"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."

Olympic dream

McIlroy played the first round of the men's Olympic golf tournament alongside Ludvig Aberg and Scottie Scheffler. 

He had previously been somewhat indifferent about the Games but his passion has grown over the years. 

At that Tokyo Games, he claimed he had never tried harder to finish third after he was involved in a playoff for the bronze medal. 

McIlroy told reporters at the beginning of the week that winning gold in Paris would almost certainly end 10 years of hurt. 

The Ulsterman has not won a major championship for a decade. 

McIlroy also fired back at one reporter when asked why he recently played St Andrews. 

"It would be the achievement of my year,” McIlroy said, when asked what victory would mean to him. 

"It's well documented that I haven't won one of the big four in 10 years. 

"It would probably be one, if not the biggest in my career for the last decade."

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