The wedding ring was still missing, but Rory McIlroy's noticeably cheerful mood at Pinehurst was the telling indication that a cloud had lifted over his head.
His cheerful demeanor during US Open week was in stark contrast to those tense scenes during the US PGA Championship, when it became apparent that divorce was imminent. No one expected to see McIlroy's return in relaxed, convivial form in front of the media just a month later. If anything, his mood may have soured as his personal life became the subject of speculation, with TMZ, the US website, last week publishing photos of him hugging CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis and citing 'rumours doing the rounds' about the nature of their relationship'. . Other media outlets went further, claiming that Balionis is "the talk of the town and has many fans wondering how close the couple has become." In reality, the hug was nothing out of the ordinary on the PGA Tour and the relationship between the pair was reportedly "strictly professional," but the story spiraled out of control.
But behind the scenes, the true story led to a happier ending for McIlroy, especially for his three-year-old daughter Poppy. Instead of leaving the family home, the Northern Irishman was in fact patching up his marriage to Erica Stoll, his wife of seven years and mother of his only child.
McIlroy appeared at his press conference on Tuesday and was upbeat but gave nothing away, instead letting his honors list do the talking. "I'm really proud of my body of work over the past 15 years and everything I've achieved, whether it's season titles, individual tournaments or majors," said McIlroy.
It was only later that evening that it emerged that the divorce petition he had filed in a Florida court last month had been voluntarily dismissed. McIlroy's attorney, Thomas Sasser, wrote in his notice of voluntary dismissal: "Petitioner Rory D. McIlroy, by and through the undersigned counsel, hereby voluntarily and without prejudice dismisses the foregoing case."
Friends claim McIlroy's main priority is keeping the family together. "He doesn't care about money," said one. But whatever happened behind closed doors, the couple have secured a costly divorce for one of Britain's richest athletes - worth an estimated £312 million - that will be avoided.
Whether the couple will now publicly present a united front remains to be seen, but McIlroy reportedly told a Guardian reporter over the phone that he is looking forward to a "new beginning" with Erica.
"Replying to every rumor is a fool's game," said McIlroy, exhausted after other high-profile breakups, including once being linked to Meghan Markle. "Erica and I realized that our best future was together as a family."
McIlroy arrived in North Carolina to end the wait for a fifth major dating back to August 2014. Coincidentally, it also marks a decade since his last major relationship, with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, ended abruptly when wedding invitations were sent out. he "wasn't ready for all that marriage entails."
That split sparked a feud between sports stars that continues to this day. However, after seven years of marriage to Stoll, McIlroy no longer believes the grass is greener. "Fortunately, we have resolved our differences and are looking forward to a new beginning," he said.
In retrospect, there were indications that a new life in the relationship might be possible. Weeks after the divorce papers were filed, Stoll was pictured with her wedding ring still on display. She also missed a 20-day deadline in early June to respond to the golfer's divorce filing in Palm Beach County. But forms confirming a voluntary discharge for divorce were not filed until Tuesday in Palm Beach, Florida - the same day McIlroy appeared before the press.
Friends of McIlroy are happy the couple is giving it another try. He and Stoll had met at the 2012 Ryder Cup in Chicago, where she was working for the PGA of America, and famously arranged a police escort to the course after he misjudged his tee time for the Sunday singles. He reached the course with minutes to spare and then defeated Keegan Bradley as Europe achieved the "Miracle at Medinah".
In Kentucky last month, without Stoll by his side and without a ring on his finger, McIlroy was a man under pressure. Divorce filings allegedly show that the marriage was 'irretrievably broken' and that the two had a prenuptial agreement. The paperwork also called for split custody of Poppy.
McIlroy declined to discuss the split at the time, saying he was "ready to play this week." Even after a possible relationship with Balionis was discussed, it remained quiet. Several US media outlets reported with some authority after the tournament that the relationship was strictly professional and Telegraph Sport has since spoken to a colleague of hers, who is understandably angry that, through no fault of her own, she was embroiled in a sham scandal.
But even for McIlroy, there was no time to take stock during most weeks of May, amid the upheavals in daily work. McIlroy's strong feelings about the sport's civil war between the PGA Tour and the Saudi-funded LIV Golf were such that even amid tensions at home in South Florida, he was willing to raise his hand and rejoin the policy council of players to join.
However, a faction of other player executives, including Tiger Woods, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth, expressed discomfort over McIlroy's reappointment after he resigned late last year and the move was thwarted.
In particular, a sporting break with Woods was almost as surprising as the one he experienced at home. The couple lives nearby in Jupiter, South Florida, and are friends who play golf socially. But when the Northern Irishman recently agreed with Webb Simpson to replace the American as one of the player directors who will ultimately decide whether to merge with the kingdom's £60 billion Public Investment Fund, Woods joined the opposition .
Then, within 48 hours of his rift with Stoll becoming public on the eve of the US PGA Championship, McIlroy became even further embroiled in sports diplomacy issues.
In another major blow, Jimmy Dunne, a key ally and investment banker who had orchestrated the framework deal between the warring parties last year, resigned from the Tour's policy council.
Rather than talk about his own sadness, McIlroy instead spoke of the "huge loss to the PGA Tour as they try to get this deal done with the PIF and try to unify the game."
"I would say my confidence level about anything that was done before last week was as low as it was, but then with this news of Jimmy resigning and knowing the relationship he has with the other side, and how much heat is coming from the other side is side... well, it's worrying," he added.
In the four weeks since, McIlroy has found time to somehow rekindle his marriage, while continuing to juggle tournament commitments with duties as a shop steward.
Last week, McIlroy played more records than ever as he competed and battled at Muirfield Village on the same day as he rushed for a highly anticipated meeting between the PGA Tour and PIF. A year and a day since the surprise announcement of their merger deal, they were finally sitting in a room together. The talks went well and McIlroy's mood changed after that three-hour meeting. "I think a lot of progress has been made," he said. "Definitely encouraged, yes."
Negotiations between the powers that be continue, but at home McIlroy's outspoken diplomacy appears to be paying off. Now that he's restored the status quo, McIlroy can only hope that his nearly decade-long barren spell in the Majors will be remedied soon as well.
