Rory McIlroy celebrated his first win of 2025 by catching up with a familiar face.

Following his victory over Shane Lowry at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, 35, engaged in a post-tournament interview with CBS Sports reporter Amanda Balionis. The occasion marked a contrast from previous moments when the two were at the center of dating speculations after McIlroy’s divorce announcement, a subject he has since clarified.

Expressing his sentiments on winning at Pebble Beach Golf Links in California, McIlroy described it as winning at one of the renowned golf venues. He emphasized the challenges and excitement of the day, with several contenders near the lead. McIlroy highlighted the need to focus on his game amidst the iconic setting of Pebble Beach, allowing him to produce a winning score and savor the experience of walking up to the 18th hole.

In the final round at Pebble Beach, McIlroy shot 6-under to complete the tournament at 21-under par, distancing himself from a competitive field and securing a prize of $3.6 million.

The four-time major champion told Balionis how Sunday’s victory — the 27th PGA Tour win of his career — “is a really cool way to start the season.”

“I’m just as determined this year as I have been in any of the years I’ve been out here on the PGA Tour and to get this win this early, it means a great deal. Hopefully, keep the momentum going into Torrey Pines in a couple weeks time,” McIlroy said.

Balionis posted photos of the post-round interview to her Instagram, along with other highlights from her week in Northern California.

“Win number 27 (!!) for (McIlroy) and one he’ll remember for sure. As a golf history buff, you know putting his name on this trophy is meaningful as is a win to kick off 2025,” Balionis wrote. It’s nearly impossible to beat a perfect Sunday at (the AT&T Pro Am) and my goodness were we lucky to experience exactly that today.”

McIlroy is off to a hot start this season following a roller-coaster year in 2024 when it was revealed in May that he and wife Erica Stoll were splitting up before reconciling weeks later.

However, before the divorce plans were scrapped, speculation surfaced that McIlroy and Balionis could be involved.

US Weekly confirmed in May the athlete and the journalist “only have a professional relationship.”

Balionis wed football coach Bryn Renner in 2022, though she has appeared without her wedding ring for about a year now.

McIlroy has been married to Stoll since 2017 and they share one child, 4-year-old daughter Poppy.

The PGA Tour star stressed the importance of family in a statement addressing his divorce reversal.

“Over the past weeks, Erica and I have realized that our best future was as a family together,” McIlroy said in a June statement. “Thankfully, we have resolved our differences and look forward to a new beginning.”

McIlroy will tee it up at Torrey Pines for the Genesis Invitational beginning Feb. 13.