The rumor mill is churning this morning with news of a possible relationship between Rory McIlroy and CBS Golf reporter Amanda Balionis. While no statements have been made, the timing of each’s recent splits from their spouses, among other coincidences, raises a few questions.
It all started with a flirty interview after Rory’s win at the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this month, as shown in the photo above. Matching outfits? Check. No wedding rings? Check. McIlroy was also featured in a short promo video for Balionis’ charity while at the event.
The Lady Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks
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While many pre-cooked articles are out there this morning denying any relationship, precipitated by an “exclusive” from Us Weekly yesterday, a few things seem to stick out in this whole matter. The timing, for starters.
Balionis went back to using her unmarried name on the air and hadn’t been seen wearing a ring since February. McIlroy announced his divorce from Erica Stoll the day after winning the Wells Fargo Championship. Over the same weekend, Rory McIlroy filmed a short promotional video for Amanda Balionis’ charity, Puppies & Golf. This confluence of events around Wells Fargo is definitely intriguing.
Other Clues About Rory McIlroy and Amanda Balionis
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Shortly after the Wells Fargo interview, a friend of Amanda Balionis’ posted a screenshot of the interview to Balionis’ social media with a caption that read, “You two,” with a heart emoji. If this isn’t a clue that something is going on, I don’t know what is. Both camps have stayed quiet about this so far, but yesterday’s Us Weekly piece seems like a “let’s get ahead of this thing” maneuver.
Balionis’ Relationship with Husband Remains Unclear
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Amanda Balionis has been married to former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner since December 2022. However, recent reports clearly indicate that something isn’t right. Amanda Balionis-Renner went back to being Amanda Balionis on social media earlier this month, and she hasn’t been seen wearing her wedding ring since February. There have been no formal statements from Balionis regarding the status of her marriage.
McIlroy and Balionis Are “Talk of the Links”
Over the past few weeks, Rory McIlroy’s close relationship with Amanda Balionis hasn’t gone unnoticed on tour. Multiple sources say the two have been the “talk of the links” since Wells Fargo. Clearly, the tour insiders know a lot more than we do, but based on what we know so far it seems pretty clear that there is some foundation to these rumors.
We’ll monitor this story closely and update you as developments occur. Both camps will probably make statements in the next few days. It will certainly be interesting to see how things play out in what would be an unprecedented player/commentator relationship on the PGA Tour. Get your popcorn ready!
About the Author
Andrew Lazzara is a New Orleans native, lifelong Saints fan, golfer, and father of three. He writes for Total Apex about sports, entertainment, and gaming. Andrew writes for Total Apex Sports about the Saints, the NFL in general, and the world of golf. For Total Apex Entertainment, he writes about movies, TV, music, and entertainment news. Andrew writes for Total Apex Gaming about the gaming industry, new technology, and game strategy. Follow Andrew on X @Andrew_Lazzara and to see more of his work, click here.
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