Amanda Balionis to return to PGA Tour coverage as Rory McIlroy confirms short break

Amanda Balionis drops hint over next golf appearance but Rory McIlroy won't be there

Amanda Balionis is poised to feature in CBS's coverage of the PGA Tour once more this week, with TPC Deere Run in Illinois hosting the esteemed John Deere Classic.

Having established herself as a prominent figure in golf broadcasting, Balionis has been the go-to interviewer for CBS's PGA Tour coverage in recent times, while rumors have circulated about her and Rory McIlroy over the past number of months.

She was back on our screens last weekend, engaging with participants at the Rocket Mortgage Classic, including the winner Cam Davis.

The PGA Tour's relentless calendar rolls on, bringing some of the sport's finest to Silvis, Illinois, all vying for the hefty $8 million prize and the coveted John Deere Classic trophy.

Balionis announced her return to the event via Instagram, posting a photo with her team and adding: "That is a wrap from Detroit with the best traveling circus, see ya in Silvis, Illinois squad!"

Absent from the lineup at Deere Run will be Rory McIlroy, the world No. 2, who had previously been rumored to have a romantic connection with Balionis before he declared that his impending split from wife Erica Stoll was no longer happening, reports the Mirror US.

McIlroy's most recent competition was last month's US Open, which ended in disappointment for the golfer from Northern Ireland.

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Rory McIlroy was on the brink of clinching his first major championship in a decade at Pinehurst No. 2, leading Bryson DeChambeau by two shots with only five holes remaining.

Yet, the final stretch proved disastrous for the 2011 champ, as he dropped shots on three of the last four holes, relinquishing his lead.

During this crucial phase, McIlroy heartbreakingly missed a couple of short putts on the 15th and 18th greens, his putter failing him when he needed it most. Notably, at the 15th, he failed to convert from inside three feet for the first time this season, after successfully making all previous 496 attempts from that range.

His last hole saw another missed short putt, ultimately handing the title to DeChambeau. A visibly disheartened McIlroy bypassed the press immediately after the round, swiftly departing from the North Carolina venue, only to express his thoughts via a statement the following day.

McIlroy announced a hiatus from golf before his return at the Scottish Open on July 11. "Firstly, I'd like to congratulate Bryson. He is a worthy champion and exactly what professional golf needs right now. I think we can all agree on that," he stated on social media.

He further stated: "I'm going to take a few weeks away from the game to process everything and build myself back up for my defense of the Genesis Scottish Open and The Open at Royal Troon."

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