• Amanda Balionis joined Joel Dahmen and Golf on CBS personalities to recreate Jim Nantz’s iconic “Hello, friends” greeting.
  • The short, playful clip was shared by Golf on CBS on X during the Farmers Insurance Open coverage.
  • Balionis is marking her 10th season with CBS Sports while covering the PGA Tour event.
  • The Farmers Insurance Open saw Justin Rose leading and Brooks Koepka making the cut in his return.

Amanda Balionis leads a lighthearted moment on the PGA Tour

Amanda Balionis, covering the Farmers Insurance Open for CBS Sports, joined Joel Dahmen and other on-site personalities in a playful recreation of Jim Nantz’s famous “Hello, friends” greeting. The short clip—part cheeky impersonation, part on-course camaraderie—was posted by Golf on CBS on X and quickly drew attention from golf fans online.

The viral clip: Golf on CBS shares the moment

Golf on CBS posted the video on X with the caption: “Hello my friend 👋 It’s so good to be back.”

Embedded post (X/Twitter):
“Hello my friend 👋 It’s so good to be back”
https://twitter.com/GolfonCBS/status/2017706043850244378

The quick video captures the warmth and familiarity Nantz’s signature line has long conveyed for golf broadcasts — now playfully echoed by reporters and players alike.

Balionis marks season 10 with CBS Sports

Balionis joined CBS Sports in 2017 after stints with Verizon Fios Channel 1, MSG Network and the PGA Tour’s in-house reporting team. She shared a short Instagram clip from the Farmers Insurance Open with the caption: “Season 10 loading on @golfoncbs,” signaling excitement for another year on the PGA Tour broadcast team.

Embedded post (Instagram):
Amanda’s Instagram post about the tour season: https://www.instagram.com/p/DTlOvdaCXkH/?utmsource=igembed&utm_campaign=loading

She also posted earlier this month about working with the Amazon Web Services team to explore how AI and data are shaping PGA TOUR storytelling.

Tournament context: Leaders and notable returns

The 2026 Farmers Insurance Open began Thursday, Jan. 29, with the final round set for Sunday, Feb. 1. Justin Rose held a commanding lead after three rounds, sitting at 21-under following a third-round 68 and entering the final at six strokes clear. Joel Dahmen impressed this week as well and was near the top of the leaderboard.

Brooks Koepka made headlines by returning to the PGA Tour after departing LIV Golf. Koepka made the cut and finished Saturday at a tie for 61st after a third-round 73.

Why the moment matters

Jim Nantz’s “Hello, friends” line is a long-standing, recognizable part of golf broadcasting. Seeing on-air reporters and players recreate it shows both respect for the tradition and a lighter side to live sports coverage. For Balionis, the clip doubles as a celebration of a milestone season with CBS and a reminder of the personalities that make golf broadcasts feel familiar to viewers.

Short, social clips like this play well on mobile and social feeds, reinforcing connection between fans, personalities and the sport.

Image Referance: https://collegefootballnetwork.com/golf/amanda-balionis-recreate-jim-nantzs-hello-friends-impression/