Golf
Rory McIlroy off to solid Canadian Open start but he’s ‘not dating’ Amanda Balionis
Rory McIlroy and CBS reporter Amanda Balionis are ‘not dating and only have a personal relationship’, according to popular celebrity gossip magazine Us Weekly.
The update comes after McIlroy opened with a flawless 4-under 66 to move into early contention at the RBC Canadian Open.
McIlroy started the day on the 10th hole and went out slowly in a level-par 35, but he rallied coming home with birdies on 1, 5, 7 and 8 to open brightly at Hamilton Golf & Country Club.
The Northern Irishman’s opening 66 sees him lie four shots off the pace, which is currently set by England’s David Skinns, who fired a 62.
McIlroy is bidding to win the RBC Canadian Open for a third time in the last four renewals, as well as capture a third PGA Tour title in his last four starts.
But while the four-time major champion has enjoyed a recent hot run of form on the PGA Tour, it’s fair to say the World No.3 has also been drawing headlines outside the ropes.
That is after shock news emerged on the eve of the US PGA two weeks ago that McIlroy had filed for divorce with his wife Erica Stoll after seven years of marriage.
Rory and Erica also share a young daughter, Poppy.
McIlroy is understood to have used a private investigator to serve the divorce papers.
Per court documents, McIlroy’s marriage to Erica was said to be ‘irretrievably broken’.
According to Us Weekly, a source told how Erica had been ‘lonely in their marriage’.
McIlroy has further hit the headlines following heavy social media rumours of a possible romance with Balionis, who has worked as a CBS golf reporter for over seven years.
Why have Amanda Balionis and Rory McIlroy been linked?
Golf fans have questioned whether there is any truth behind a viral social media post linking McIlroy, 35, with Balionis, 38.
An unsubstantiated report from the Daily Mail suggested McIlroy was romantically involved with Balionis earlier this month.
But according to the latest unsubtantiated report on the subject over at Us Weekly, McIlroy and Balionis are ‘not dating and only have a personal relationship’.
Balionis interviewing McIlroy at Quail Hollow this month
This has been the case for quite a while now though, according to a number of eagle-eyed PGA Tour fans.
It is unconfirmed whether Balionis is going through a divorce like McIlroy, but there are numerous reports claiming that to be the case.
Representatives of both Balionis and Renner have declined comment about their private life, as too has McIlroy’s team.
A source at CBS Sports gave comments to the Daily Mail earlier in the week in light of McIlroy-Balionis dating rumours.
The Daily Mail’s CBS source admits Balionis ‘will not mind having her name linked to this story because of the profile it’s giving her’.
Scroll down for the source’s quotes…
McIlroy’s team has declined comment
The anonymous source also admitted to the Daily Mail that Balionis has a ‘flirty nature which works well on television’.
As for whether McIlroy and Balionis have dated, the source could not be certain.
Daily Mail states: “A source at CBS who knows Amanda well said: ‘Amanda has always wanted to be on television. It’s her dream. She’s very likeable but one of the most ambitious people I’ve met. I’ve known her for a long time.
“She won’t mind having her name linked to the story because of the profile it’s giving her. I know she’ll be loving it. I don’t mean that cruelly. She’s a nice girl, but she’s ambitious. This will give her a leg up.’
“The source added: ‘Before all this, I wouldn’t have said they were any closer than she is with other players. She’s got a flirty nature, which works well on television. She has chats with the players. I guess she and Rory get on well, but I don’t know whether they’re in a relationship or not.'”
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