Golf reporter Amanda Balionis has shared a cryptic Instagram post about connecting with people after Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica Stoll were spotted enjoying time together at the Olympics.

McIlroy and his wife are currently in Paris, where the 35-year-old is representing Ireland in the Olympic golf event at Le Golf National, alongside Shane Lowry. The couple have been spotted enjoying the Olympic action, watching Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in tennis action against Rajeev Ram and Austin Krajicek.

The four-time major winner and his wife have recently made headlines after McIlroy announced they were divorcing, only to later call off the proceedings as the couple give their relationship another shot. In the lead up to the U. S. Open, McIlroy’s personal life was thrust into the spotlight when he discussed his divorce plans, amidst rumours of a romantic link with Balionis. Speculation grew as the pair shared a jovial interview, as Balionis was seen without her wedding ring. However, any rumours were put to bed when McIlroy and Stoll halted their divorce proceedings.

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Since then, Balionis has posted several cryptic messages on Instagram, leading some to believe there may be a hidden meaning related to McIlroy. Her latest post, a collection of July highlights, includes a message about connecting through humour and enjoying laughter with others.

“Cherish the gift of humor. Life doesn’t need to be so gloomy. Spirituality doesn’t need to be so serious and somber. Work doesn’t need to be that way either. Learn to see the humor in life. Look for it. Find it. Enjoy it. Surround yourself with people who like to laugh,” the post read.

“Being around people who laugh can open us up to the power of humor in our own lives. Laughter can become contagious. There I something magnetic, something healing, about being around people who let themselves laugh often.”

McIlroy opened up about the swirling rumours concerning his private life in the build-up to his disappointing performance at Pinehurst No. 2, where he lost out to Bryson DeChambeau after bogeying three of the final four holes. But he steered clear of delving into specifics regarding his relationships.

“There have been rumours about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate,” McIlroy remarked. “Responding to each rumour is a fool’s game. Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

McIlroy wrapped up the first round of the Olympic tournament tied for sixteenth place at three-under-par. Meanwhile, The Open champion Xander Schauffele is vying to retain his gold medal, finishing the first round tied for second on six-under-par. Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama is out in front, leading into the second round on eight-under-par.

Rory McIlroy is currently preparing for the Paris Olympics, but he still managed to find the time to dish out some Ryder Cup smack talk to one rowdy American fan.

On Monday, McIlroy played a casual round at The Old Course at St Andrews, where he was seen hitting blistering tee shots on holes 12 and 16. While walking the historic course, the 35-year-old briefly stopped to engage in playful banter with the reported 100-200 people that congregated to watch him play.

In one clip posted to social media, an especially energetic fan can be heard shouting at McIlroy: “New York loves you, the Bronx baby, the Bronx.” In response to the overzealous attendee, the Northern Irishman hilariously quipped, “You’re not gonna love us next year!” in reference to the 2025 Ryder Cup.

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Back in 2023, Europe reclaimed the Ryder Cup with a 16.5 to 11.5 win, but the thrilling victory wasn’t without its hiccups. On the heels of the final hole being played at Marco Simone Golf Club, McIlroy and longtime caddie Joe LaCava got into a verbal spat on the green, with the altercation carrying over into the parking lot after the former took issue with the latter’s celebratory antics.

McIlroy’s heated confrontation with LaCava and subsequent shouting match with Jim “Bones” Mackay ultimately became rallying points for he and his European teammates.

Discussing the fallout from the incident at the hotel, McIlroy told the Irish Independent: “Then [European captain] Luke [Donald] comes in and sits down and doesn’t acknowledge anyone. And he looks at me and I’m thinking, ‘I could be in trouble here,’ but he goes, ‘Rory! I ——- loved that!’

“And all the boys started banging the table. It was brilliant. It had been a really deflating finish, but it galvanized the team.”

McIlroy still has quite some time before he’ll be able to represent Team Europe again in the Ryder Cup, with the next edition not taking place until September 2025. But the world No. 3 golfer doesn’t have to wait long to represent Ireland at the Olympics men’s tournament, which kicks off on Thursday at Le Golf National.

At the Tokyo Games back in 2021, McIlroy fell just short of finishing on the podium, losing to C.T. Pan in a seven-man playoff for the bronze medal. American Xander Schauffele took home gold in Japan, while Rory Sabbatini earned silver.

Three years later, McIlroy divulged that he relishes the opportunity to represent Ireland as opposed to Great Britain in the Olympics.

“As I said, previously, once I left trying not to upset anyone aside, then it was actually a pretty easy decision,” he said. “The decision was I’m going to play golf for the country or the nation that I’ve always played for through my junior and amateur days and now into the professional game. And that’s Ireland.”

CBS golf reporter Amanda Balionis is overjoyed to be heading across the pond to North Berwick for the 2024 Genesis Scottish Open, where she’d be reunited with Rory McIlroy. 

On Thursday, Balionis took to Instagram to express her excitement about covering the tournament. Sporting a tan Alo cap and sweater, the reporter took a selfie with her stamped passport.

‘See ya soon North Berwick,’ she wrote with a heart emoji while tagging the Scottish Open.

READ: Rory McIlroy pictured wearing his wedding ring again after divorce U-turn

Covering the last two days of the tournament, which runs from July 11 to 14, may open the door for Balionis’ first public run-in with McIlroy since their previous flirtation rumors circulated.

However, it comes after McIlroy called off a divorce and reconciled with wife Erica Stoll, who was seen at the course supporting her husband early in the tournament.

The last time Balionis interviewed McIlroy was at June’s RBC Canadian Open following his headline-grabbing divorce from Stoll in May. Speculations of a possible romance between them sprouted from their seemingly flirtatious interviews.

With McIlroy calling it off with Stoll, fans continued to push the narrative as Balionis – who is married to former NFL quarterback Bryn Renner – was also conspicuously not wearing her wedding ring amid the rumors.

However, the whispers coming from interview smiles and giggles proved to be nothing but fan fiction.

After declaring their marriage broken and filing for divorce, McIlroy called the split off to settle their differences for their family. The golfer would later address the unavoidable rumors about his personal life.

‘There have been rumors about my personal life recently, which is unfortunate. Responding to each rumor is a fool’s game,’ he said.

‘Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.’

Stoll made her first public appearance since the divorce was retracted as McIlroy finished the first round five under to secure an eighth place tie to begin.

McIlroy hopes to bounce back after losing to Bryson DeChambeau in heartbreaking fashion in at the 2024 US Open.

McIlroy shocked the sporting world in May by filing for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll before announcing that the couple had been able to resolve their differences

Rory McIlroy has been seen wearing his wedding for the first time since U-turning on his divorce plan as he competed in the Scottish Open.

The competition is being held at The Renaissance Club in Gullane, East Lothian where McIlroy, the defending Scottish champion, carded a first round of five under.

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On Wednesday, the golfer, said to be worth £200million, was amongst the stars competing in a pro-am competition in aid of Doddie Weir’s MND charity.

McIlroy was joined on the course by the likes of Glenthrothes-born, Hollywood actor Dougray Scott. Former Scotland rugby captain, Rob Wainwright was also taking part along with ex-Celtic skipper, Scott Brown.

They were joined on the east coast by former Hoops’ colleague, Stuart Armstrong whose caddy was ex-Parkhead favourite and now of Brentford FC, Norwegian defender, Kristoffer Ajer. The pro-am event was held to raise money for the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.

It was set up by Doddie Weir, the former Scottish rugby international, after he was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in 2016. Weir passed away in November 2022 aged 52 but the foundation continues to flourish and has raised millions of pounds to fund research into the condition.

During the pro-am, McIlroy spent time chatting to MND sufferer, Scott Stewart. The 41-year-old from Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute was diagnosed wth the condition last year.

Speaking after their meeting, the golfing superstar, said: “It hits you when you meet someone like Scott.”

Also competing was Oban-born, golf professional, Robert “Bob” MacIntyre. The 27-year-old has supported the foundation for a number of years and was keen to take part in the latest fundraiser.

Speaking later, MacIntyre, who was runner-up to McIlroy in last year’s Scottish Open, said: “I try to support as many charities as I can and the foundation became a strong one for me in 2019. Guys were doing a lot of stuff for Doddie within golf and I thought it was unbelievable.”

In May, McIlroy shocked the sporting world by filing for divorce from his wife, Erica Stoll with whom he has a three-year-old daughter, Poppy. But weeks later, the 35-year-old announced that he had had second thoughts and the couple were attempting to save their marriage.

Taking to social media, he wrote: “Over recent weeks, Erica and I have realised our best future was as a family together. Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”