Amanda Balionis and Rory McIlroy’s immense impact on CBS Sports has been laid bare after the network reported its most-watched golf season in the last seven years.
Over the course of the PGA Tour season, CBS has been front and center for some of the biggest moments that the sport has to offer. McIlroy’s historic win at The Masters — coupled with Balionis’ raw and authentic coverage — have delivered record-breaking viewership numbers and generated immense excitement around the company.
According to a press release, CBS’ golf coverage averaged 2.969 million viewers in 2025 — marking a whopping 17% increase from last year and the best since 2018. 14 of the 19 Final Rounds broadcast on the network, meanwhile, experienced a year-over-year viewership increase.
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Most recently, the Wyndham Championship — during which long-time CBS commentator Ian Baker-Finch called Cameron Young’s winning putt on hole No. 18 — enjoyed its most-watched Final Round in five years with an average of 1.951 million viewers.
As Balionis noted, however, the success that CBS has enjoyed this year if it weren’t for Baker-Finch, who laid down the foundation over 19 years with the network before announcing his retirement from broadcasting.
Taking to Instagram, Balionis bid an emotional goodbye to Baker-Finch while filming from the CBS set. It’s been an incredible year,” she began.
“And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say the biggest storyline — at least for us on Golf on CBS — is that today we are saying a final farewell to our friend Ian Baker-Finch.
“He is retiring to spend more time with his family, with his wife, Jenny, with his grandkids. And we’re so happy for him, but of course, we are sad for us.
“Nineteen years with CBS — pretty incredible stuff. Thirty years in broadcasting total, and then of course a major champion, elite golfer, all before that.”
In a separate tribute video, Balionis added: “Ian, we are all going to miss you so much. From the moment that I started with this team, you have led with so much kindness and compassion.
“I am also going to miss the dad jokes. But most of all, I am going to miss every Saturday and Sunday, knowing I can count on seeing you and your smiling face, and bringing so much joy to our entire crew.”
Following a decorated playing stint that included a major championship win in 1991, Baker-Finch pursued a second career as a broadcaster. While the 64-year-old has made appearances on multiple networks over the last 30 years, he eventually found a permanent home with CBS upon joining them as an analyst in 2006.
“Whatever you think of Ian Baker-Finch being in your home the last thirty years, and I know it’s a great feeling having him as a friend from far away,” Baker-Finch’s CBS colleague Jim Nantz said.
“Whatever you thought he was like, it’s ten times better. He’s one of the the great people all of us at CBS will ever know.”
