The golfers get all the fame and glory on the course, but their caddies are an unsung and often unrecognized hero of their games. While many believe the caddie’s job is just to carry the clubs, he or she is also a source of information and guidance.
A caddie’s job begins during the practice rounds of the tournament. They will carry a little logbook that contains detailed notes from the practice round. This includes pin placement, the clubs the golfer hit, the result and any notable features about the hole. The caddie offers suggestions on club choice, and we have often seen a golfer go with their caddie’s advice and experience favorable results.
Rory McIlroy is one of the best golfers in the world. While he is likely recognizable by any fans of the sport, many people probably couldn’t pick his caddie out of a lineup.
Here is more on McIlroy’s caddie.
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Rory McIlroy caddie
McIlroy has used two caddies during his professional golf career. His first was named J.P. Fitzgerald, who he had on his bag until 2017. McIlroy then switched to Harry Diamond, who has been his caddie over the last eight years.
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Who is Harry Diamond?
Like McIlroy, Diamond is from Holywood, Northern Island, and the two grew up best friends. Talking about Diamond, McIlroy said, “I was an only child and Harry was a big brother. We’re very close. I love having him on the bag. I’m a different person. And I’m never going to give him sh** even if something goes wrong. It would not be worth it.”
Diamond is a former golfer in his own right, but he never reached the level of success McIlroy has. His career peaked in 2012 when he won the West of Ireland Championship, which allowed him to play in that year’s Irish Open. Diamond was McIlroy’s best man for his wedding in 2017. Off the links, the caddie is pretty private with not much known about his personal life, other than he is thought to own several small businesses, including some bars.
McIlroy has been outspoken about how important Diamond has been to his game. After winning in 2019 at The Players he said that Diamond is “one of the best caddies out here, if not the best.”
McIlroy also attributed his win at the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship to Diamond.
“Harry was awesome out there especially that decision on the last. I was ready to get in there and try to play that with a lob wedge and he was sort of like, ‘Let’s take a step back, let’s think about this, where’s the best place you’re hitting your third from?’
So he sort of calmed me down, slowed me down a little bit and said, ‘Pal, let’s just think about this.’ Ultimately we made the right decision, it’s Harry and I’s sixth win together and it’s probably been our best one. Bay Hill back in 2018 was great because I hadn’t won in a while, but this is even better just because Harry’s been there every step of the way.”
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Why did Rory McIlroy switch caddies?
McIlroy said that the decision to move away from JP Fitzgerald was a personal one. He said that it was to “preserve a personal relationship” with him and realized that he was “getting too hard on him,” while also wanting to take “more ownership” in his game. McIlroy and Fitzgerald won four majors together. He maintains that he didn’t fire his caddie, but instead simply went in a different direction.
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Where is Rory McIlroy from?
McIlroy was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, in 1989. His father Gerry was also born in Holywood. McIlroy went to a Catholic primary school, St. Patrick’s, but didn’t attend with Diamond. Instead, fittingly, the duo met on the golf course. They met on the putting green of the Holywood Golf Club when they were both around seven years old. McIlroy had been turning heads at the golf course since he was three years old, and was constantly begging his father to take him. He became the youngest-ever member of the Holywood Golf Club, joining when he was seven.
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