CBS golf reporter Amanda Balionis is overjoyed to be heading across the pond to North Berwick for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, where she’d be reunited with Rory McIlroy.
On Thursday, Balionis took to Instagram to express her excitement about covering the tournament. Sporting a tan Alo cap and sweater, the reporter took a selfie with her stamped passport.
‘See ya soon North Berwick,’ she wrote with a heart emoji while tagging the Scottish Open.
Covering the last two days of the tournament, which runs from July 11 to 14, may open the door for Balionis’ first public run-in with McIlroy since their previous flirtation rumors circulated.
However, it comes after McIlroy called off a divorce and reconciled with wife Erica Stoll, who was seen at the course supporting her husband early in the tournament.
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The last time Balionis interviewed McIlroy was at June’s RBC Canadian Open following his headline-grabbing divorce from Stoll in May. Speculations of a possible romance between them sprouted from their seemingly flirtatious interviews.
With McIlroy calling it off with Stoll, fans continued to push the narrative as Balionis – who is married to former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner – was also conspicuously not wearing her wedding ring amid the rumors.
However, the whispers coming from interview smiles and giggles proved to be nothing but fan fiction.
After declaring their marriage broken and filing for divorce, McIlroy called the split off to settle their differences for their family. The golfer would later address the unavoidable rumors about his personal life.
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‘There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game,’ he said.
‘Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.’
Stoll made her first public appearance since the divorce was retracted as McIlroy finished the first round five under to secure an eighth place tie to begin.
McIlroy hopes to bounce back after losing to Bryson DeChambeau in heartbreaking fashion in at the 2024 US Open.