Amanda Balionis makes announcement as Erica Stoll strides fairways with Rory McIlroy
Golf fans react as Erica Stoll is spotted striding the fairways with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open, and CBS reporter Amanda Balionis is on the way to The Renaissance Club.
![[photo credit Amanda Balionis / Instagram]](https://cdn.golfmagic.com/styles/img_600/s3/2024-07/mcilrs11_0.jpg?itok=j0rNXklU)
Amanda Balionis has taken to Instagram to confirm she's heading over to the Genesis Scottish Open to cover the final two rounds of the tournament for CBS Sports where Rory McIlroy is going in search of history at The Renaissance Club.
Balionis' social media post comes 24 hours after Erica Stoll was spotted striding the fairways with her husband McIlroy.
It marks the first time Erica has been seen out following McIlroy on the golf course since their shock divorce was called off last month.
McIlroy, 35, filed for divorce with wife Erica Stoll, 36, on 14 May, just days before the start of the US PGA at Valhalla.
A week later, an unsubstantiated report in the Daily Mail then surfaced that McIlroy was building a 'romance' with CBS' Balionis, 39, who has also been going through a divorce.
But a month later on 11 June, the World No.2 confirmed his divorce was off the cards and that he and Erica had sorted things out.
McIlroy and Stoll share a daughter, Poppy.
At the same time McIlroy also appeared to shut down rumours that anything had happened between himself and Balionis.
McIlroy told The Guardian:
"There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game.
"Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realised that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning."
According to another unsubstantiated article, McIlroy and Balionis have a 'personal relationship'.
McIlroy then went on to agonisingly fall one shot shy to Bryson DeChambeau at the US Open at Pinehurst No.2, missing two short putts on the closing holes to compound the situation.
He gave an astonishing answer to one reporter when asked to speak about his latest near-miss.
After several weeks off to dust himself down, McIlroy is back in competitive action this week bidding to become the first player in history to successfully defend the Scottish Open.
McIlroy is bang in contention for the title heading into the weekend, too.
His wife Erica is on site all week to watch his every move at The Renaissance Club.
McIlroy is currently just three shots off the pace as he heads into the weekend at the co-sanctioned DP World Tour and PGA Tour event.
Sweden's Ludvig Aberg is out in front on 12-under par following back-to-back rounds of 64.
McIlroy is going in search of his third PGA Tour title of the season.
Should the Ulsterman seal a 27th career PGA Tour victory on Sunday afternoon, he will likely be met on the 18th green by not only his wife Erica for a congratulatory hug and kiss, but also CBS' Balionis for a post-tournament interview.
Some PGA Tour fans are already getting ahead of themselves thinking it could be a very awkward situation indeed should the tournament play out that way.
Scroll below to see some comments...
'Can you imagine if Rory wins this week... Erica runs on for a hug but Amanda wants an interview!' joked one fan.
'Oh boy, Amanda is on the way and Erica is out there with Rory', commented another.
One fan wrote: 'Cannot wait to see Rory, Erica and Amanda all the 18th green together on Sunday LOL'.
Another fan took a different approach: 'Clearly nothing happened between them but I am totally here for all the drama'.
Balionis took to her official Instagram page on Friday to inform her fans she was headed to the Genesis Scottish Open.
'See ya soon North Berwick,' Balionis captioned her Instagram Story post while tagging in CBS Sports and the Scottish Open.
Check out Balionis' post here:
Erica and Rory were seen out for dinner on Sunday night with a number of the 2023 European Ryder Cup team including captain Luke Donald and his wife Diane.
It was there that McIlroy learned from Donald that Keegan Bradley had been made a shock 2025 US Ryder Cup captain.
That news was then made public on Monday.
McIlroy spoke about Bradley's appointment earlier this week, and also fired shot at him in the process.
The four-time major champion will look to end 10 years of major misery at the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon in Scotland next week.
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