Last week, the professional golfer Rory McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife Erica Stoll after seven years of marriage. The timing of the filing was particularly surprising, given the fact that it was just days before the start of the PGA Championship.
Now, rumors are swirling that McIlroy, 35, is already moving on and dating the CBS reporter Amanda Balionis, 38.
Rumors About McIlroy And Balionis
Daily Mail reported that McIlroy and Balionis are the “talk of the links” in the wake of his divorce filing.
Balionis, who married former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner in 2022, interviewed McIlroy earlier this month after he won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow golf course in Charlotte, North Carolina. The interview was noticeably flirty, with Balionis beaming as she asked McIlroy to share a Mother’s Day message for his mother Rosie.
Just one day later, McIlroy filed for divorce from his wife.
Last month, during the PGA Zurich Classic in New Orleans, McIlroy filmed a promotional video for Balionis’ non-profit organization Puppies & Golf. This foundation provides grants to families, shelters, rescues, and assisting military veterans and organizations that rescue dogs and train them.
The New York Post reported that at the end of February, fans noticed that Balionis didn’t wear her wedding ring when she covered the Genesis Invitational for CBS. Just two weeks before that, she had been wearing her wedding ring while covering the Super Bowl.
Balionis has also switched her user name on X from her married name of Balionis Renner back to just Balionis.
Check out Balionis interviewing McIlroy last month below.
Related: Rory McIlroy Files For Divorce From Wife Of 7 Years – ‘No One Saw It Coming’
McIlroy And Stoll’s History
McIlroy met Stoll at the 2012 Ryder Cup, where she was working for the PGA, according to The Mail. They allegedly were just friends at first and only became romantic after he broke off his engagement to the tennis star Caroline Wozniacki in 2014.
McIlroy reportedly ended his engagement to Wozniacki in a three-minute phone call just hours after telling her he loved her. A source close to the Danish tennis player said that she “wants no part of his drama” amidst his divorce.
McIlroy and Stoll welcomed their daughter Poppy In 2020. McIlroy is asking for shared custody and a parenting plan to be established for their 3 year-old daughter.
Official court documents filed in Palm Beach County state that Rory and Erica’s marriage is “irretrievably broken.” For legal representation, Rory has hired Thomas Sasser, who represented Tiger Woods in his 2010 divorce from Elin Nordegren.
Related: Truth Behind Rory McIlroy’s Divorce Is Revealed – ‘Hard Person To Be Married To’
McIlroy Wants Divorce To Be ‘Amicable’
McIlroy has only publicly addressed his divorce briefly, with his reps saying that he wants the process to be “as respectful and amicable as possible.” Days after he filed he finished tied for 12th in the PGA Championship. This was nine shots behind the first-time major winner Xander Schauffele.
Stoll is believed to still be at their $22 million Jupiter, Florida mansion with their daughter. McIlroy is worth $87 million, but a prenup that Stoll signed when they married in 2017 means she may not be entitled to half his income.
McIlroy and Balionis have yet to publicly address speculation about their potential relationship.
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