Rory McIlroy and Erica Stoll make big statement with daughter after Open disaster

Rory McIlroy, who had a disappointing week at The Open Championship at Royal Troon, is now making the most of his time with his wife Erica Stoll and their daughter, Poppy .

After a challenging two days on the Ayrshire links, which saw McIlroy shoot 11-over-par across 36 holes and miss the cut by six strokes, the family flew out of Prestwick Airport early Saturday morning. Their destination was Faro, from where they travelled to Almancil on the Algarve.

Photos have emerged of the family enjoying some sun-soaked relaxation, with 35-year-old McIlroy spotted shirtless at the beach after a refreshing sea swim. While three-year-old Poppy is not visible in the photos, Stoll appears to be holding a child's hand.

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This public outing in the Algarve is the strongest indication yet that McIlroy and Stoll's marriage is back on solid ground, following rumours of a split just a few months ago. In May, McIlroy shocked the golfing world when he announced that he and Stoll were ending their seven-year marriage and seeking a divorce, citing an "irretrievably broken" relationship.

Just days before the PGA Championship at Valhalla, where Rory McIlroy was a strong contender for the Wannamaker Trophy but ended up tied for 12th place, news broke. However, by the time he played in the next major - the US Open at Pinehurst No. 2, reports the Mirror .

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McIlroy confirmed that he and his partner had made amends. "There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate," he told The Guardian. "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. "

.McIlroy's ex-agent Andrew "Chubby" Chandler recently claimed on talkSPORT that Rory's "messy" personal life has been a hindrance to his success on the course. He remarked, "The top, top players obviously play better more often, and then the really top players take their chances.

That's all that's happened with Rory. Rory's played fantastically for ten years, he just doesn't take any chances.

"Chandler added, "Looking from the outside, and I haven't seen Rory for a couple of years, but to me it looks like his life is messy. You know what it's like as a sportsman, you have to have total focus and keep your mind on what you're doing.

"After a disheartening second round at Troon where he began thinking of holidays after only four holes, McIlroy's chances were dashed by a triple bogey eight at the par-five fourth, crushing any hopes of making the cut.Reflecting on his game, he confessed: "I think once I made the eight on the 4th hole, that was it".

He added further: "I was 22 holes into the event and I'm thinking about where I'm going to go on vacation next week. Yeah, that was basically it.

"I mean, I knew from then I'd sort of resigned myself to the fact that I wasn't going to shoot, whatever it is, 4- or 5-under from there on in to make the cut. It was a pretty meaningless 14 holes after that."

Prior to the tournament, McIlroy gave a revealing interview to The Telegraph where he admitted: "I need to take a step back and appreciate what I've done in my career and in my life and enjoy my success. " He also stated: "I don't really enjoy my success and I haven't I would say for the last five. I haven't been on a vacation in probably four or five years. So I think just stepping back and enjoying myself a little bit more away from my game is the thing. Have some fun."

McIlroy and his wife Stoll met for the first time at the 2012 Ryder Cup where she was working for the PGA of America. They started keeping company soon after his split with tennis sensation Caroline Wozniacki in 2014 and he popped the question a year later in Paris.

In 2017, they tied the knot at a grand ceremony held at Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland.