Rory McIlroy and sports reporter Amanda Balionis maintain a strictly professional relationship, according to Us Weekly. Despite rumors linking the two after McIlroy, 35, filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll, both McIlroy and Balionis, 38, have not addressed the speculation publicly. Balionis, who married football coach Bryn Renner in 2022, is an experienced golf journalist and recently interviewed McIlroy on May 12 after his victory at the Wells Fargo Championship.
Following his Wells Fargo Championship win, McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll, 36, after seven years of marriage, citing that their relationship was “irretrievably broken.” The couple, who have 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,” noting that while 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 the personal challenges, McIlroy has continued competing in the PGA Tour, securing a T12 finish at the PGA Championship and a T32 at the Charles Schwab Challenge. He 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.