A new report is shooting down any suggestion that Rory McIlroy and CBS Sports golf reporter Amanda Balionis are romantically involved.
The pair only have a “professional relationship” and are not dating, Us Weekly reported Wednesday night.
There was buzz surrounding the golfer and the reporter after McIlroy’s decision to file for divorce from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll.
Neither McIlroy nor Balionis has publicly addressed any rumors, which took on a life of their own after The Daily Mail had reported that the media member and the four-time major champion were the “talk of the links” after people believed they noticed a close relationship between the two.
Balionis has been married to football coach Bryan Renner since 2022, according to Us Weekly.
The speculations seems to stem from Balionis’ interview with McIlroy on May 12 after he won the Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy’s camp addressed his divorce in a statement following the news coming out earlier in May.
“Rory McIlroy’s communications team confirmed today that a divorce has been filed. They stressed Rory’s desire to ensure this difficult time is as respectful and amicable as possible,” said a statement from his manager, Sean O’Flaherty.
Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow golf course on May 12, 2024. Instagram/Amanda Balionis
Legal filings stated the marriage was “irretrievably broken,” and it also revealed that the couple did have a prenuptial agreement.
The divorce filing was also asking for split custody of the couple’s 3-year-old daughter, Poppy.
The filing came just days after McIlroy won the Wells Fargo Championship, and he has continued to compete on the PGA Tour.
Two weeks ago, he finished the PGA Championship at Valhalla tied for 12th, and he did not play in last weekend’s Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club.
McIlroy will compete in the Canadian Open, which begins on Thursday at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario.
