Rory McIlroy’s Caddie Under Fire: Ex-Agent Defends Amid Major Championship Heartbreak

Rory McIlroy’s Caddie Under Fire: Ex-Agent Defends Amid Major Championship Heartbreak

Rory McIlroy once again fell short of securing his elusive fifth major championship at last Sunday’s US Open, leading to widespread criticism aimed at his caddie, Harry Diamond. Despite a promising position at Pinehurst No. 2, where McIlroy appeared poised to break his decade-long major drought, he was ultimately outperformed by 54-hole leader Bryson DeChambeau. The Northern Irishman had held a two-shot lead with just five holes remaining, yet a series of critical errors saw him narrowly miss out by a single stroke.

The most glaring mistakes came on the greens, with McIlroy missing crucial short putts on the 16th and 18th holes, severely denting his championship hopes. Additionally, his strategic choices were called into question, particularly his club selection on the 15th and 18th tees. At the par-three 15th, a seven iron sent his ball flying over the green, resulting in a bogey. Similarly, on the 18th, a driver off the tee put him in a tough position, leading to another bogey. Intriguingly, in the prior three rounds, McIlroy had opted for a safer three-wood on the final hole, a strategy he abandoned in the fourth round.

This deviation sparked a debate, with many pointing fingers at Diamond for his role in these pivotal moments. However, McIlroy’s former agent, Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, staunchly defended the caddie. Chandler emphasized that McIlroy is ultimately responsible for his own decisions, often disregarding external advice. “You can’t blame the caddie because [McIlroy] doesn’t listen to anybody,” Chandler asserted. He further elaborated that McIlroy’s independent mindset dictates his actions both on and off the course, making it unfair to hold Diamond accountable.

“Rory does what Rory wants to do. In life, full stop. So for everyone to say ‘it was the caddie’s fault,’ what is the caddie going to do, have a row with him on the 18th tee?” Chandler explained. He pointed out that Diamond, like everyone else, might have been puzzled by McIlroy’s sudden switch to the driver. However, intervening could have placed undue blame on Diamond had things gone wrong regardless.

Despite the disappointment at Pinehurst, McIlroy and Diamond’s partnership, which began in 2017, has seen considerable success, even if not on the major stage. Chandler believes McIlroy’s decisive mentality has been a crucial factor in his achievements. “Rory is definitely the boss, and there is nothing wrong with it,” he added. “They haven’t done bad with it, have they?”

Following the heart-wrenching loss, McIlroy has decided to take a brief hiatus from competitive golf. He is set to return to action next month in Scotland to defend his Scottish Open title, followed by another major appearance at the Open Championship at Royal Troon a week later.