Report: CBS source responds to Rory McIlroy, Amanda Balionis shock rumour

A source at CBS has passed comment to the Daily Mail this week amid ongoing romance rumours linking Rory McIlroy with CBS reporter Amanda Balionis.

NEW: RORY MCILROY AND AMANDA BALIONIS ARE 'NOT DATING AND ONLY HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP' CLAIMS REPORT

McIlroy 'filed for divorce' with wife Erica Stoll after seven years of marriage on Monday 13 May, which marked the start of the second major of the season at the US PGA at Valhalla. 

Rory and Erica share a young daughter, Poppy. 

McIlroy, 35, used a private investigator to serve the divorce papers, according to a latest leak. 

Per court documents, McIlroy's marriage to Erica was 'irretrievably broken'. 

An unsubstantiated report from the Daily Mail has since suggested McIlroy is now romantically involved with Balionis.

However, a report in Us Weekly claims McIlroy and Balionis are not dating and just have a 'professional relationship'.

So make of that what you will. 

A viral social media post appeared earlier this month linking McIlroy to a potential blossoming romance with Balionis, 38, who has been working as a CBS Sports reporter on their PGA Tour coverage for seven years. 

Balionis greeted McIlroy for a victory interview on the 18th green at both the Zurich Classic of New Orleans alongside Shane Lowry earlier this month, and then again seven days later when the Northern Irishman won a record fourth Wells Fargo Championship.

That interview at Quail Hollow came less than 24 hours before McIlroy filed for divorce.

A number of PGA Tour fans consider it was a quite 'flirty' interview too, especially in light of the romance rumours. 

Speculation was further fuelled when Balionis, who is married to former NFL quarterback and now coach Bryn Renner, was seen conducting interviews without her wedding ring on. 

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 many 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. 

But a source at CBS Sports has passed comment to the Daily Mail this week in light of McIlroy-Balionis dating rumours. 

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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'. 

The anonymous source further admitted to the Daily Mail that Balionis has a 'flirty nature which works well on television'.

As for whether McIlroy and Balionis are in a relationship, the source could not be certain. 

The Daily Mail article 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.'

McIlroy is in action at this week's RBC Canadian Open where he will bid to land a third victory in the tournament after wins in 2019 and 2022.

The World No.3 starts as a warm 7/2 favourite for a third victory in his last four starts on the PGA Tour.