She is one of the most respected reporters in sports broadcasting, but not everything has always gone according to plan for Amanda Balionis on the television screens

Rory McIlory speaking with Amanda Balionis
Golf fans were all talking about Amanda Balionis’ interview with Rory McIlroy (Image: CBS SPORTS)
Amanda Balionis, like any TV broadcaster, is not immune to awkward moments live on air and has had her fair share during her impressive career.The Pittsburgh native has become one of the most respected broadcasters in sport. Balionis, 39, joined CBS Sports in 2017 and has covered every single Masters tournament since 2018. The journalist has also previously written for PGATour.com, where her love for golf was further cemented.

She is living the dreams of many golf fans, having interviewed the best the sport has to offer. Yet, there are many occasions Balionis would alter if she was able to go back in time. Irish Star Sport has a look at some of those moments.

‘Awkward’ interview with Rory McIlroy

Casual golf fans or first-time watchers of the sport would have watched Balionis’ slick interview with Rory McIlroy without thinking anything of it. After McIlroy won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, fans suddenly remembered the unfounded dating rumors about Balionis and the PGA Tour star.

After the Northern Irishman filed divorce papers for his wife Erica Stoll in May 2024, many fans thought he and Balionis could soon be an item, as the presenter was reportedly seen without her wedding rings. There is no evidence to suggest he and Balionis were ever an item and neither of them have addressed the speculation.

On social media, fans said they were watching their exchange through their fingers, with many fans simply commenting: “Awkward”. In June 2024, McIlroy announced a U-turn on his decision to divorce Stoll, and the couple have remained together ever since. Meanwhile, Balionis is still married to football coach Bryn Renner.

Interview that she “lost sleep” over

Amanda Balionis speaking to Tiger Woods in an interview
Balionis felt the pressure when she spoke to Tiger Woods (Image: Instagram/balionis)

Not long into her time with PGATour.com, Balionis was given the enviable task of interviewing golfing great Tiger Woods. While speaking to Links Magazine in a fascinating Q&A session, Balionis was asked if there were any times when she felt nervous to speak to someone.

She quickly replied: “Tiger Woods, for sure. When I started with PGATour.com, I think Tiger was my second-ever sit-down interview.

“I’m very thankful the camera angle was from the waist up; my legs were shaking uncontrollably from nervousness. I lost a lot of sleep before that interview.”

Her ‘worst’ television moment

Amanda Balionis of CBS interviews Dustin Johnson of the United States on the putting green after the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on November 15, 2020 in Augusta, Georgia.
Amanda Balionis’ worst on-air moment involves Dustin Johnson (Image: (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images))

The cool, calm and collected figure Balionis presents to golf fans has been many years in the making. Every television reporter, young and old, has carried out an interview which makes them wince when they look back. Balionis is no exception. When asked to name any occasions where things have gone wrong in a 2021 interview with Golf.com, Balionis said: “It involves Dustin Johnson. It was live, I’m sure there’s a tape of it somewhere, but I hope it never resurfaces.

“It was my first tour championship that I was covering. I used to overprepare. If I’m anxious about something, I’ll just try to gather all the information I can. I wrote 30 index cards about every player in the field, covered front and back.

“I’m interviewing Dustin, I didn’t even expect him to say yes. Dustin comes over. I’ve got my index card, I’m ready. I see on my index card – it says ‘third President’s Cup’. This was 2011 – you do the math. Not possible. But I trusted the card. I said to Dustin ‘You’re about to go tee it up in your third President’s Cup. What have you learned from your past events?’ He just looked at me and goes ‘It’s my first’.”