Amanda Balionis fights back at trolls after latest CBS golf interview sparks fresh controversy
By OLIVER SALT
Amanda Balionis has hit out at critics of her interview with Rickie Fowler at the weekend after trolls urged CBS to fire the reporter for being too 'negative'.
The 38-year-old spoke with Fowler after his impressive three-under third round at the Charles Schwab Challenge on Saturday, which left him only four shots off the lead.
Yet during their conversation at the end of the round, Balionis was slammed for pointing to the PGA Tour star's putting average - which currently ranks him 125th on the tour.
She also asked him how it felt to be competing for a title again after being stuck in 'neutral' for a long period of time.
Following the interview, Balionois shared screenshots on Instagram of two messages she received from trolls, which branded her a 'highly unprofessional journalist' and 'negative'.
One of the messages in question also claimed that CBS 'should have fired Amanda some time ago.'
Amanda Balionis has hit out at critics of her interview with Rickie Fowler at the weekend
The CBS reporter was blasted for her 'negative' chat with Fowler at Charles Schwab Challenge
Yet Balionis fired back at the trolls by stressing that trying to be 'perfect' is an impossible task
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While sharing the posts on her story, Balionis also fired back by stressing that trying to be 'perfect' to impress others is an impossible task.
'When we talk about being you instead of trying to be what you think others perceive as ‘perfect’ or ‘good enough’… here is an example of how the latter is simply an impossible and draining task,' she said in the since-expired story.
Amanda also added: 'It’s a lot easier to be yourself and figure out what feedback is actually worth listening to (spoiler: it’s never the trolls you don’t know) rather than trying to be what everyone else wants
'Nobody wants the same thing and you’ll end up turning yourself into an unrecognizable pretzel. Okay that’s all. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk that absolutely nobody asked for.'
Balionis was also in the headlines after this month's PGA Championship when she appeared to take a dig at rumored ex-flame Rory McIlroy over his bizarre four-day media snub at the tournament.
Masters champion McIlroy, usually fairly generous with the time he gives media, snubbed reporters every day at Quail Hollow in a disappointing week at a course where he has won four times before.
Balionis, who led CBS' coverage at the second major of the season, shared pictures on her Instagram from her interviews with Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau. They both fell short in their bid to try and catch the eventual runaway winner, Scottie Scheffler.
But she wrote about Rahm and DeChambeau: 'Appreciate these two for taking the time to talk after a gutting loss.
'Simply a reminder that no one is obliged to talk, it's a choice. And to bring us in after coming so close to a career accomplishment is awesome for the viewer.
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