Sports reporter Amanda Balionis has shared a heart-warming moment between Rory McIlroy and a young golfer – who is now set to make his Masters debut in Augusta this week.
Balionis, a CBS reporter, revealed what she said was one of her “favourite stories”, which took place during a meeting between McIlroy and Noah Kent. Kent was just 13 years old at the time in 2017 when he met one of his heroes at Erin Hills after missing the cut at the US Open. Eight years later, the two golfers were seen playing a practice round together ahead of the Masters.
Kent told Balionis: “I was a hockey player at the time and I kind of just looked up to Rory and I was just like ‘How do you hit it so far like you’re not that tall’. He kind of just pointed at the ground, he’s like ‘It’s all on the legs.’”
The reporter told fans: “I think it’s worth noting that five minutes might not seem like a whole lot to these athletes out here, but it can really change a kid’s life.”
Kent said it meant “so much” that McIlroy would spend time with him. “He doesn’t know who I am, I’m just a 13-year-old kid out there just watching and supporting, so it just means the world,” he added.
McIlroy, 35, will be hoping that this is the week he will take home the green jacket for the first time. Looking back at the moment with Kent, he said: “I never thought eight years later that we’d be playing a practice round at Augusta National. It just goes to show to never take these little encounters with kids for granted, because you never know what can happen.
“It’s amazing to see him play so well, to get here, to get in this field this week. Obviously looking forward to going out there and experiencing it with him today.”
Kent is making his Masters debut and first major championship start after finishing as runner-up in the US Amateur last August at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota – which earned him invitations to the Masters and the US Open this year. Last autumn he had four top-15 finishes, including T-5 in the Fighting Irish Classic and eighth in the Fallen Oak Collegiate Invitational.
Balionis and the rest of the CBS crew will be back on the golf course this week after enjoying a rare few weeks off. The broadcaster has not covered the PGA Tour since the Genesis Invitational last month, with NBC holding the broadcast rights for the Mexico Open, Cognizant Classic, Arnold Palmer Invitational, The Players, Valspar Championship, and the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
But Balionis, Jim Nantz, Trevor Immelman and co. will be back on our screens on April 12 for third and fourth-round coverage from Augusta. The first two rounds will be screened live on ESPN.
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