Reporter Amanda Balionis Turns Heads in Interview Before the Masters
Golf reporter Amanda Balionis witnessed a record-setting performance from Dustin Johnson in 2020, but his performance on the course isn't the only reason she remembers that tournament so well.
Balionis, who launched her CBS career in 2017, sat down with fellow reporter Kira K. Dixon ahead of the Masters this weekend to discuss the wild COVID-delayed tournament won by Johnson.
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"The one that sticks out is 2020 Masters in November," she began, via the Mirror. "It was just surreal in general. Gosh, talk about being grateful to be here, to be able to have that interview with Dustin Johnson after he left Butler Cabin."
"...I was watching Dustin as we were in commercial break and no one was talking, and there were all of these photographers in front of us getting ready to get their green jacket photo of Dustin after."
Balionis set the stage, revealing his brother and caddie, Austin, had already been crying and his wife, Paulina, was sitting by with tears in her eyes as well while Johnson was forced to wait for his on camera moment.
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"You can tell that this is the first moment Dustin has had to take a breath and soak in what he has just accomplished – with the green jacket on," she said. "And when he broke down in that interview I just thought, 'this is the Dustin everyone's been dying to see'. Like we all know he cares but he never let us see how much he cared before that moment."
Balionis chalked the emotions up not only to the win, but the wonder of Augusta National.
"And again, there's just something so magical about this place and this tournament that there's no keeping those walls up when you've accomplished something that you've dreamed about your entire life," she said.
Johnson will get the chance to win another green jacket when he tees off at 12:11 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 10.
Related: Paulina Gretzky Turns Heads With Vacation Photos Before the Masters
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