Amanda Balionis opens up on Dustin Johnson moment at the Masters that was career highlight

CBS sports presenter has revealed that one of the most poignant moments in her career came as she interviewed an emotional Dustin Johnson following his 2020 Masters victory. The 39-year-old broadcaster is for her work on the and has been with since 2017.

The renowned reporter was reminiscing about her experiences at the prestigious tournament with her friend and fellow golf correspondent, Kira Dixon, as she gears up for this year's event in Augusta, which . During their conversation, Dixon inquired about Balionis' most cherished memory from covering the major. Balionis recalled the extraordinary occasion when she spoke to a visibly moved , who is typically known for his composed demeanor, after his win five years ago. The Masters that year took place in November, rather than its traditional April slot, due to -19 restrictions, and Balionis felt that the unusual setting for her interview, conducted outdoors on the green, added to its significance.

"The one that sticks out is 2020 Masters in November," she told . "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 (where the victor receives the Green Jacket).

"It was an interview that's never been done before, hopefully it will never happen again as that would mean crazy circumstances are upon us. That was one of, I think, the coolest moments of my entire career, and simply just because I was lucky enough to be the one to be on that green.

"Austin (Johnson's brother and caddie) is standing over to the side and he's already crying and Paulina (Johnson's wife) is there and she's emotional and the photographers are there. 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.

"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.

"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.

"So I just thought that was a special moment for a lot of reasons, but just to see one of the greats of our game show that emotion that I think we've all been wanting to see for so long, and during a really emotional time by the way, that was kind of just one of those heartstring moments that just felt so good."

The victory, which saw the then world No. 1 triumph by five strokes over Sungjae Im and Cameron Smith, marked Johnson's first Masters win, following a tie for second place in 2019. The victory also represented his second major, after his U.S. Open triumph at Oakmont Country Club in 2016.

Johnson joined LIV Golf in 2022, and his form heading into this year's Masters is somewhat tepid. A series of disappointing finishes at several of the league's events in 2025 have tempered expectations surrounding the 40-year-old.

Johnson ended up tied for 27th place at the recent LIV Miami event, but he will be hoping to recapture past glories when the Masters commences on April 10.