A body language expert has claimed that Erica Stoll appeared ‘subdued’ after Rory McIlroy’s victory at the Masters. The Northern Irishman became the sixth player to ever complete a career grand slam over the weekend, with Stoll and their daughter Poppy in attendance at Augusta.
McIlroy was forced to dig deep to finally complete the feat, surrendering the lead on several occasions on the final day of action. After finishing tied on 11 under par with Justin Rose, the 35-year-old managed to hold his nerve in a sudden-death playoff to land the spoils.
The crowd at Augusta erupted as McIlroy sunk his putt for birdie on the 18th, with the world No. 2 dropping to his knees and unable to contain his emotions after recognising that he had finally won the Masters on his 17th attempt.
McIlroy was not short of congratulations when making his way to receive his green jacket, sharing a hug and kiss with his wife Stoll just moments after his win. However, doubts have been raised about the mother-of-one’s true emotions following her husband’s success.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, body language expert Judi James described their celebratory cuddle as ‘tempered’. She explained: “Erica uses back pats, which are firstly a gesture of gentle affection but which also usually signal a desire to break from an embrace, while Rory appears much more clingy. Rory looks overwhelmed and clingy, while Erica’s response appears a little more polite, subdued and tempered.”
McIlroy and Stoll filed for a divorce last year before deciding to remain together, and they have put on a united front since – with the family travelling to multiple tournaments together and speaking openly about how they are loving life as a three.
However, James felt that the celebrations between the couple were parent-and-child-like, telling the Mirror: “His celebratory rituals with wife Erica looked very parent/child. Rory puffed loudly as he approached her, with his eyes on her in a gesture of relief and a release of pent-up pressure and stress that seemed to have come up from his boots.”
She added: “Rory held both arms out like a small child asking for a hug and when they hug happened, he clung round Erica’s neck like a needy child. Erica’s responses were complimentary in terms of looking parental as she patted and rubbed his back in soothing rituals, although her wide-brimmed hat pulled off the ‘Melania effect’ of distancing and covering in the way the First Lady’s hat did during the inauguration. It created a more tempered response, and the pats could have been seen as a signal to break.”
