Rory McIlroy's celebrations with his wife Erica Stoll shows that the relationship is 'first and foremost now' after the golfer won the Masters on Sunday, it has been claimed.
The 35-year-old managed to beat Justin Rose in a tense play-off clash to achieve the career Grand Slam.
It was also McIlroy's first major since 2014 and, after his sensational triumph, he shared a warm embrace with wife Erica.
The couple had been heading for divorce last year, only for the pair to realise that 'the best way forward is together'.
Rory McIlroy's celebrations with his wife Erica Stoll shows that the relationship is 'first and foremost now' after the golfer won the Masters on Sunday, it has been claimed
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Now, body language expert Darren Stanton has opened up on the couple and analysed their behaviour on Sunday.
“The most salient thing about his interaction with his wife is that it’s clear family is the root of his stability," he told OLBG.
"He loves golf It is obviously his passion but his relationship with his wife and his family are first and foremost now.
“Unlike some other sportspeople, you don’t see these public displays of affection, but with Rory we do.
"The outpouring of emotion, that hug with his wife, and clearly they have had to support him so much emotionally, which others might not have done in the same situation.
"It’s taken him a lot of years to get to where he is now, and he’s not done that alone.
“It is immensely important to him and the cornerstone of his belief and value system. He now clearly has that really deep connection and rapport with his wife and his family.
"That’s the reason he’s done this. Not just for himself, but for them.”
READ MORE:Rory McIlroy calls out Tiger Woods and three other golf legends after securing Masters glory
A long time coming. Congratulations, Rory. #themasters pic.twitter.com/f72nOxQbfw
— The Masters (@TheMasters) April 13, 2025
After winning, McIlroy broke down in tears.
He then started shouting in celebration as the magnitude of his achievement dawned on him.
Stanton, reacting to the footage of McIlroy celebrating wildly, added: “We don’t often see a player show this level of emotion. We’ve not seen this before.
"I know we’ve seen Tiger Woods and various other people get emotional but not on this level. It was like he was letting go of so much stress and tension, that release of winning.
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“When he put that green jacket on, it was a moment of absolute disbelief, shock, elation - it was a real concoction of different emotions.
"He again closed his eyes. He was taking in the moment. Processing what it meant to finally get here. Breathing in the moment that he got that jacket. It’s such a powerful moment.
“He looks drained too at the whole process of realising that’s finally achieved what he set out to do. Mentally, physically, emotionally.
Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll embraced at the Masters as the golf star won the first Green Jacket of his careerREUTERS“Rory actually attributes a lot of his success to body language.
"What you think about, you bring about. What your energy levels are like, positive belief systems, positive attraction - a lot of athletes subscribe to these ideas, that what you visualise, you manifest.”
