Amanda Balionis saw golf legend’s true colors the first time she interviewed him

Amanda Balionis has interviewed some of the biggest names in golf during her career, but it was Ernie Els who helped to put her at ease during their first meeting

Amanda Balionis has interviewed the biggest names in golf(Image: Getty Images)

Amanda Balionis, the popular sportscaster known for her engaging on-screen presence and adept interviewing technique, once shared a charming anecdote about how golf legend Ernie Els truly embodied his “Big Easy” moniker after she recalled their first encounter at the genesis of her career.

Over the years, Balionis has risen to become one of the finest in her field, beloved for her relatability and interview prowess, which has granted her face time with some of golf’s most prominent figures. Currently gracing television screens with CBS Sports, she’s often spotted covering PGA Tour events across the nation when the NFL season ends and golf begins.

Just last week, she prompted Justin Thomas to get emotional alongside his wife after a personal question while she sat down with Rory McIlroy and he could not stop smiling after winning the Masters. She’s now gearing up for one of her ‘favorite weeks’ of the year for her next assignment.

Yet, like many successful figures, the 38 year old broadcaster climbed the ranks from humble beginnings. She initially dipped her toe into sports journalism by reporting on high school athletics for Verizon Fios Channel 1 and MSG Networks. Her big break came in 2011 when she joined the PGA Tour as an internal reporter and host, marking an inflection point in her burgeoning career.

Last year, while chatting with Links Magazine, Balionis fondly recollected her first brush with a PGA Tour professional — none other than the four-time major winner, Els — around the same time he was poised to enter the World Golf Hall of Fame. With an impressive tally of 18 PGA Tour victories and three majors to his name then, Balionis couldn’t have asked for a more renowned subject for her nascent reporting journey.

Balionis fondly remembered how Els, one of golf’s greats, put her at ease during a time when she was still a newcomer in the media industry. “He’s always been so good to me, and I was too new to the golf world to know that I should be nervous for that one,” she reminisced. “He just looks like a big teddy bear!”.

Popular sportscaster Amanda Balionis has recalled the moment she first interviewed Ernie Els

Els, known as the “Big Easy” for his towering presence and smooth swing, certainly lived up to his moniker with his laid-back demeanor and approachability, making him an easy subject for interviews. For Balionis, who was only 25 at the time, it was the perfect first interview experience.

However, her next interviewee brought a different level of anxiety – Tiger Woods. Looking back, Balionis confessed that the anticipation of interviewing the golf icon cost her “lost a lot of sleep” the night before their first encounter.

When asked about the most nerve-wracking personality to interview, Balionis didn’t hesitate: “Tiger Woods, for sure. When I started with PGATour.com, I think Tiger was my second ever sit-down interview. I’m very thankful the camera angle was from the waist up as my legs were shaking uncontrollably from nervousness.”

Fast forward to today, and Balionis is typically the first one to interview the winners of each PGA Tour event she covers. She’s always ready with the most pertinent questions. Some of these interviews are particularly memorable for their raw emotion.