Rory McIlroy took time off this year ‘to realise what was important’ to him after calling off divorce from wife Erica Stoll

Speaking to Patrick Kielty on the first episode of the new season of the Late Late Show, Mr McIlroy said “I think sometimes life can get a lot and it can get too much”.

In June, McIlroy confirmed that he and his wife Erica Stoll would remain together after the divorce papers the world number three golfer filed in a Florida Court in May were voluntarily dismissed.

He and Erica married in 2017 at Ashford Castle in Co Mayo and have one child together, Poppy Kennedy McIlroy, who was born in 2020.

“There’s been a lot going on this year, golf wise and then obviously personal wise as well. I had to take a little bit of a break and get away from the game more than anything else,” he told Patrick Kielty.

“Golf and the business of golf had become all consuming for me for the last couple of years and I needed to take a bit of time away to realise what was actually important to me.

“Friends, family, enjoying myself, enjoying the fact you were this little boy in Holywood and you’ve grown up to be whatever it is that I am and I need to enjoy that time.”

Speaking about his daughter Poppy, he said: “We got her her first real clubs for her birthday this year. She’s taken a little bit of interest, if she did I would be 100pc supportive but at the same time I wouldn’t mind if she did something different.

“It’s not just about being a sportsperson, there’s all the rest of it that comes with it. Especially in this age of social media and all the stuff you have to deal with. So, if it’s your daughter you’re trying to protect her from that as much as you can.”

Kielty and McIlroy’s friendship goes back a number of years as the host shared a clip of himself with the then nine-year-old golfer putting holes back in 1998.

The two met in Co Down during the Irish Open which is taking place in recent days.

McIlroy also said competing at the Paris Olympics this year was “incredible”.

Speaking to the Guardian in June, McIlroy said: “There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. 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.”

Court records in Palm Beach County in Florida showed that a “notice of voluntary dismissal” had been filed and the case status was listed as “closed”.

Back in May of this year, the bombshell news came that the Holywood, Co Down, man was to split from his wife of seven years.

Mcllroy’s spokesperson confirmed the news in a statement in mid-May, stressing McIlroy’s “desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible. He will not be making any further comment”.

The petition for divorce stated that the pair had signed a prenuptial agreement. The filing also calledt for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for their daughter Poppy.

It described the marriage as “irretrievably broken” and asked that a prenuptial agreement, signed about a month before their April 21, 2017, wedding be validated and enforced. The prenuptial agreement was sealed.

McIlroy’s attorney was listed as Thomas Sasser, the same attorney who represented Tiger Woods when his wife divorced him in 2010.

McIlroy met Erica in 2012 when she was working for the PGA of America at the Ryder Cup and McIlroy credited her with helping him get a police escort to the course after misreading his tee time for the Sunday singles.