Rory McIlroy’s divorce wasn’t the only subject of clubhouse rumours during this past weekend’s PGA Championship.
Apparently, McIlroy wasn’t the only person whose wedding ring was noticeably absent at Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Ky.
CBS sports journalist Amanda Balionis also had a bare ring finger at the event, sparking relationship rumours between the two.
The Northern Irishman and the broadcaster were “the talk of the links” after some noticed their close relationship at events over the past few weeks, according to the Daily Mail.
McIlroy filed for divorce last week from his wife of seven years, Erica Stoll, while Balionis has been married to former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner since 2022.
While Balionis and Renner have not officially announced a split, the reporter changed her user name on X earlier this year from her married moniker of Balionis Renner back to her maiden name of just Balionis. Fans noted in February that she had ceased wearing her wedding ring on TV and in posts on social media.
The golf superstar and Balionis began to spark rumours at the previous week’s Wells Fargo Championship, which he won.
Balionis interviewed McIlroy after his victory with the two wearing colour-coordinated shirts – something that many were quick to pick up on.
“You coordinated outfits this morning didn’t you?” one commenter on Instagram asked.
“Matching outfits? Are the rumors true?” another commented.
With the final round falling on Mother’s Day, Balionis asked McIlroy if he had a message for his mom. While the golfer delivered a heartfelt answer, it was notable that he didn’t mention his wife, the mother of his three-year-old daughter, during the tribute.
McIlroy filed for divorce from Stoll two days later.
The golfer has helped out Balionis in the past, helping out with Puppies & Golf, a non-profit the reporter founded in 2020.
Earlier this year, McIlroy took time out of this busy schedule to shoot a video in support of the organization, which is aimed at advocating for rescue dogs, rehousing and in some instances retraining them as support animals for veterans.
On Tuesday, it was reported that Stoll and McIlroy reached “a breaking point” in the couple’s seven-year marriage before divorce papers were filed.
“A point of contention in Rory’s marriage with Erica was that Erica was lonely in their marriage,” a source told Us Weekly. “Rory was a hard person to be married to.”
McIlroy and Stoll, a former publicist, “were living very different lives the last two years with him being on the road, and eventually she had a breaking point,” the source said.
McIlroy is set to take a week off from tournament play before returning next week at the RBC Canadian Open, which runs from May 28 through June 2 at Hamilton Golf and Country Club.