Rory McIlroy was far from impressed with a fan at the Genesis Invitational, who blamed his caddie Harry Diamond for his struggles during the final round on Sunday
Rory McIlroy sensationally stood up for his caddie, Harry Diamond, after a spectator blamed him for the Northern Irishman’s missed shot at the Genesis Invitational.
In Sunday’s final round, McIlroy failed to sink a 10-foot putt on the third hole, prompting an immediate response from a fan who suggested the four-time major champion should “blame” his caddie. Despite a challenging weekend for McIlroy, who endured putting difficulties including a two-over 74 on Saturday and losing nearly four strokes overall, he leaped to the defence of Diamond immediately.
As soon as the fan spoke out, McIlroy snapped “shut the f*** up”, according to golf insider Dan Rapaport. The incident speaks volumes about the 35-year-old’s loyalty to Diamond, who has been his caddie since 2017.
Diamond came under fire following McIlroy’s agonising one-stroke loss at the US Open to Bryson DeChambeau in June last year. Afterwards, Tiger Woods’ former coach Hank Haney suggested that with a different caddie, McIlroy might have clinched the major for himself.
“If [Woods’ former looper] Steve Williams was Rory’s caddie I can promise you he would have never hit a perfect flighted 7 iron that rolled over the green on 15 into a terrible lie because he would have hit an 8 iron and sent it straight up in the air and held the green,” Haney said in the aftermath. “Wrong club, wrong shot, bad plan.”
Fellow golfer Smylie Kauffman echoed Haney’s thoughts, but McIlroy was quick to defend his decisions and his caddie. “It’s certainly unfair,” McIlroy retorted. “Hank Haney has never been in that position. Smylie has been in that position once.
“Just because Harry is not as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t say anything and that he doesn’t do anything.
“Someone said to me once if you would never take advice from these people, you would never take their criticisms, either. Certainly wouldn’t go to Hank Haney for advice. I love Smylie, but I think I know what I’m doing, and so does Harry.”
Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond have a close relationship after years of working together.
After clinching victory at the DP World Tour Championship in November 2024, McIlroy was very open about his feelings towards Diamond and his colleague’s contribution to his success. “He gets his fair share of stick and it’s not warranted,” he declared post-victory. “He’s an amazing caddie and the best friend I could ever ask for.”
In fairness to Haney, he later retracted his comments about Diamond, admitting a few weeks later: “I think [McIlroy’s] caddie has been great for him. I never said he wasn’t great for Rory.
“I said they made a mistake on No. 15 at the US Open. I actually am actually a big fan of friend caddies, anyone can make a mistake.”
