“There’s very little that sports and dogs can’t fix.” That’s the motto Amanda Balionis lives by, and lately, she’s been proving it in two very different fields. Back in January 2025, Balionis was right where golf fans love to see her, covering another PGA Tour season for CBS. Her mix of warmth and quick insight made her a familiar face for every weekend broadcast. But when golf wrapped up, she didn’t slow down.

She simply swapped the greens for the gridiron. As the NFL season kicked off in September, Balionis was back on the sidelines, doing what she does best. The reporter was asking sharp questions and connecting with players in the middle of the action. And yet, just when it looked like her schedule was all football, golf has pulled her right back in.

On November 29, 2025, Balionis will head to Austin, Texas, to cover the Tito’s Shorties Classic at Butler Pitch & Putt. The annual event isn’t your typical pro tournament. It’s a charity pitch-and-putt with pros, celebrities, and a heavy dose of fun. She shared the news herself on social media, teasing fans with clips that made this clear. It’s a fitting full-circle moment. The same reporter who wrapped up one of the longest golf seasons on record will close the year under the Texas lights, this time, for a cause.

November 29 is still more than a month away. But fans might not have to wait that long to hear Amanda Balionis talk golf again. Recently, Balionis shared a story on her Instagram updating fans about the upcoming Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship. It is set to begin on October 23 at the Emirates Golf Club’s Majlis Course in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Balionis’s stories have just revealed that she will be at the course to cover the 16th edition of the championship live. 

She gave golf fans a hint before the big event. In her Instagram stories, Amanda Balionis reposted an update from the official AAC Golf handle. It highlighted a fun fact that the championship featured a 54-year age gap between its youngest and oldest players. On one end was 13-year-old Joseph Cao from China; on the other, 67-year-old Rachid Akl from Lebanon. Sharing the post, Balionis simply wrote, “JUST THE BEST.” Moments later, she tagged her location at the venue and added, “Ready for a great week.” The message was clear. She wasn’t just watching from afar. She was back on the course.

Then, on October 6, Balionis made it official. “We are talking about the Tito’s Shorties Classic coming up in November,” she said in a new post. “Mark your calendars, November 29th. One of my favorite events of the year. First of all, it’s in Austin, Texas, one of the greatest cities in the country. Second, it’s at Butler Pitch & Putt, one of the oldest courses in Austin.”

While big names are already set to headline the event, Balionis’ return to golf coverage adds something extra. But switching between the two worlds isn’t easy. For Amanda Balionis, it’s a balancing act that keeps her running from tee boxes to touchdowns.

How Amanda Balionis’ passion for sports came with heavy sacrifices 

It was back in 2011 when Balionis joined the PGA Tour as their host and in-house reporter. Adding to that, she has already spent almost a decade voicing her opinion as a sports journalist for CBS. But her journey wasn’t as smooth as her coverage in front of the camera. Recently, Balionis has opened up about the struggles that come hand-in-hand with living her dream job.

Back in September 2025 she shared how a hectic month as an NFL reporter went for her. She added, “We had a month! 3 weeks ✈️ 8 cities 🌆 7 hotels 🛌 3 NFL games 🏈 2 golf tournaments ⛳️ 1 herniated disc 😵‍💫.. ….it is officially time to shut it down. Feeling grateful, fulfilled, and ready to prioritize some true self-care over the next couple of weeks ❤️.”

But that wasn’t all. In early September, she updated fans on how she was already fighting against a pinched nerve. On her dad’s 7th death anniversary, she wrote with a heavy heart, “I’m seeing a chiro tomorrow morning and have been alternating ice and heat today which has kept the pain mostly at bay… but my fingers are still very tingly which is weird. Will keep you updated for those also on this fun journey! Let’s age in dramatic fashion together.” 

For a person dealing with an unimaginable hectic regime, even breaks often don’t feel like they should. “Every time I have a weekend off, I have a horrific work nightmare,” added Amanda Balionis at the start of this month. Alongside the physical exhaustion, it also took a mental toll on the reporter. However, she later updated how yoga helped her out of the bad phase. While Balionis will look to overcome the obstacles life throws at her and continue with what she does best, fans will surely be waiting to hear her opinion on the sport soon.