Rory McIlroy and Amanda Balionis Relationship Explained

Rory McIlroy, 35, and sports reporter Amanda Balionis, 38, have maintained a strictly professional relationship, despite recent rumors linking the two following McIlroy’s divorce filing from his wife Erica Stoll, as reported by Us Weekly. Neither McIlroy nor Balionis has publicly addressed the speculation. Balionis, an experienced golf journalist who married football coach Bryn Renner in 2022, interviewed McIlroy on May 12 after his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll, 36, after seven years of marriage, citing that their relationship was “irretrievably broken.” The couple, who share a 3-year-old daughter named Poppy, have a prenuptial agreement in place. McIlroy’s communications team confirmed the divorce filing on May 14, emphasizing his wish for a respectful and amicable process.

An insider revealed to Us Weekly that Stoll had felt “lonely in their marriage.” Although she understood McIlroy’s demanding profession, her perspective shifted after the birth of their daughter. Stoll was often absent from McIlroy’s tournaments, focusing primarily on raising Poppy.

Despite these personal challenges, McIlroy has continued to compete in the PGA Tour. He secured a T12 finish at the PGA Championship and a T32 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. McIlroy is slated to compete next at the Canadian Open on May 30 at the Hamilton Golf and Country Club in Ontario, where he debuted professionally in 2019 with a win. “It’s important to keep coming back, and to play in front of crowds like this is amazing,” McIlroy remarked during a pre-tournament press conference on May 29.