Rory McIlroy & Wife Erica Gets Spotted With Ryder Cup Fam But Fans Get Exited For a ‘LIV’ Reason
The heartbreak at Pinehurst No. 2 had visibly affected Rory McIlroy. Two back-to-back seasons where McIlroy was bereft of the winner’s glory. Many thought he would be out of sight for some time, and he has been professionally. His utter frustration was deemed the reason, and he withdrew from the Travelers Championship and promised to return at Genesis Scottish Open as the defending champion. However, to everyone’s surprise, Rory McIlroy was recently seen with his wife Erica in a private meet-up. But this meet-up was unlike any other, for the Ryder Cup team was in the house!
Luke Donald’s wife, Diane Donald, first shared her journey to this meet-up in London in her Instagram stories. A snapshot of the beautiful invitation card read, “Luke Donald is invited to the Royal Box on Monday, July 8, 2024.” She had also added a picture where all of the previous Ryder Cup teammates were seen with their wives. NUCLR GOLF later added the photo to their X handle. They captioned it, “Members of the European Ryder Cup team assembled for a dinner in London, including Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica. (Via Diane Donald / IG)”
Along with McIlroy and his wife, Luke, and Diane Donald, there were also Shane Lowry and his wife, Wendy Honner. Tommy and Clare Fleetwood also joined the group with Nicolai Højgaard and his girlfriend Amanda Falkenberg, and Tyrrell Hatton. The group missed quite a few notable names, including that of Jon Rahm. However, this team hoisted the winner’s trophy last year at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club, Guidonia Montecelio.
#LOOK: Members of the European Ryder Cup team assembled for a dinner in London, including Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica. (Via Diane Donald / IG)@TrackingRory @LowryTracker pic.twitter.com/setpTw57HS
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 8, 2024
Interestingly, the Northern Irishman and his wife filed for a divorce before the commencement of the PGA Championship, and everyone deemed that it would be the time of McIlroy’s resurgence. However, before the US Open started, the two reconciled and called off the divorce. The couple shared an adorable daughter, Poppy, whose custody also became a matter of discussion in the golf world in that short span.
Although a huge controversy arose when Hatton and Rahm were subjected to huge fines to remain eligible for the Ryder Cup because of their LIV Golf alliance, the fans have different opinions now. Instead of outright calling out LIV Golf, they even discussed it at a Ryder Cup member’s reunion.
The golf community speculates on the LIV Golf effect over Ryder Cup members
One of the fans commented, “Looks like the banana boat… LIV Golf super team incoming???” Insinuating a slang used for newly arrived immigrants, the fan sees the Ryder Cup members as freshly off the boat, as if they might all form a LIV Golf team of their own. Tyrrell Hatton and the absent 2023 Ryder Cup golfer Jon Rahm have already joined LIV Golf. Although they were subjected to a penalty fee, they are still eligible to play at the DPWT and could be seen thriving at the 2025 Ryder Cup. As per Guy Kinnings, fans might just see Rahm at Bethpage in 2025. “People instantly thought we would have to change the rules. But actually, we don’t. If Jon follows the procedures in place, there is no reason why he would not be eligible for the 2025 Ryder Cup.” A team that has already won a cup together, the fan suggests, would make a super team if they played in LIV together.
Another fan wrote, “Rory cool with Liv now.” After his gut-wrenching conclusion at the US Open, people are not dismissing the slight possibility that McIlroy might consider LIV less harmful. According to Mirror, McIlroy had previously reflected on how he does not believe LIV Golf will slow down, which is becoming a reality. His stance has really softened on the Saudi-funded league now. There was once a time when he said that even if it would be the last place to play golf, he would not join the league. Although he still wouldn’t be joining the league per his confessions, his thoughts about the league and golfers have gotten better. McIlroy had previously talked about an understanding between the two rival leagues. He remarked, “But hopefully with maybe more of a collaboration or an understanding between the tours. Maybe there is some cross-pollenation there where players can start to play on both. I guess that will all be talked about in the coming weeks.”
Someone else suggested, “Hatton looks like he’s enjoying life on LIV.” The 32-year-old golfer, who made his LIV Golf debut this year, has been part of the Legion XIII along with Rahm. In LIV Golf Nashville, he navigated his team toward victory. He shot a final-round score of 65 for a six-shot win. The golfer has earned $7,356,929 from LIV Golf as of June 24th, according to Golf Monthly. It’s quite clear how well Hatton has been doing in this new league.
“Has Tommy Fleetwood ever won an event before?” asked another fan. Fleetwood has not been able to bag even one PGA Tour win to date. However, the golfer still has commendable finishes in all of the majors. In the PGA Championship, he finished T5 in 2022. While in the 2018 US Open and 2019 Open Championship he became the runner-up, Fleetwood has also finished as T3 in this year’s Masters tournament. He shows many prospects to soon win his PGA Tour maiden glory. The upcoming Open Championship in his homeland seems like just the right opportunity. Needless to say, the golfer has also achieved seven European tour titles and helped hoist the Ryder Cup last year.
Unable to see Jon Rahm, a fan asked, “Where is Rhambo?” The 29-year-old golfer, who had to go through several controversies after joining LIV, was not present at the meet-up. With 11 PGA Tour wins, including two majors, the golfer had earned much respect. However, after cutting his ties with the PGA Tour, he was suspended from there and even confessed at the Masters this year that he received somewhat of a cold treatment and one of his close friends did not even look at him.
