Amanda Balionis Returns to Golf After NFL Stint, Shares PGA Tour Highlights

TORREY PINES, Calif. — Amanda Balionis, the popular CBS Sports reporter, has returned to her roots in golf after a six-month stint covering the NFL during the 2024 regular season. Known for her versatility and engaging on-air presence, Balionis has become a fan favorite since joining CBS in 2017, covering major events across golf and football.

Balionis recently took to Instagram to share highlights from her time at the Farmers Insurance Invitational, held at Torrey Pines Golf Course from Jan. 22-25, 2025. The tournament, which featured a $9.3 million prize pool, saw Balionis conducting interviews with top players, including winner Harris English. In one post, she shared a heartwarming moment with Coco, the child of Blair and Krista McNeill, captioning it, “Cutest interview of the week.”

Her return to golf comes after a successful NFL season, where she showcased her adaptability by covering games across the U.S. Balionis seamlessly transitioned from the PGA Tour to the NFL, earning praise for her professionalism and rapport with athletes. Her NFL coverage concluded on Jan. 6, 2025, just weeks before her return to golf.

Balionis also gave fans a glimpse into her personal life, posting about her love for golf and her active lifestyle. She shared photos of herself at Pebble Beach, presumably during the AT&T Pro-Am, and documented her Pilates routine and infrared sauna sessions. In one playful post, she joked about “feeling wine drunk” in a mirror selfie, tagging the clothing brands she wore.

At the Farmers Insurance Invitational, Balionis interviewed Harris English, who ended a 1,308-day title drought with his fifth PGA Tour win. English, 35, reflected on his journey, saying, “It’s always a journey. I’m 35 now. I’ve been doing this for 14 years, and it never gets easier. I enjoy the grind of it.” He finished the tournament 8-under par, holding off Sam Stevens to secure the victory.

Balionis’ return to golf has been met with enthusiasm from fans, who appreciate her passion for the sport and her ability to connect with athletes. With 322,000 Instagram followers, she continues to share behind-the-scenes moments and insights from her career, solidifying her status as one of the most beloved figures in sports journalism.