Rory McIlroy new caddie claim and defence of Harry Diamond as US Open theory dismissed
The controversy surrounding Rory McIlroy and his caddie Harry Diamond has continued to dominate the golfing world heading into The Open Championship this week
The overwhelming criticism towards Rory McIlroy 's caddie Harry Diamond has yet to simmer despite the commencement of The Open Championship.
Diamond was widely blamed for the Northern Irishman's collapse in the final stages of the US Open last month which saw him come within five holes to clinch his first major championship since winning the USPGA Championship in 2014.
With Bryson DeChambeau coming up big to win his second US Open title, the 10-year major duck for McIlroy continues to plague the golf legend who was last ranked No. 1 in the world over four years ago.
The 35-year-old will hope to end his drought for a golf major this weekend at the Royal Troon Golf Club which would also spell his first alongside Diamond as his caddy.
New caddie statement
Among those who accused Diamond of being the reason behind McIlroy's disappointing defeat was English tour pro Eddie Pepperell, who last month implored the four-time major winner to cut ties with his caddie of seven years.
The 33-year-old lamented McIlroy's decision to play the 18th hole with a driver, despite using a 3-wood in the previous three rounds, which saw him pull his tee shot off the fairway. He claimed a "stronger caddie" would have been the difference between McIlroy winning and losing.
Speaking on The Chipping Forecast, Pepperell said: "Sometimes, to win a golf tournament, you need to limp over the line, and I'm adamant that it is your caddie on occasions like that can really be the difference that can pull you over that finishing line.
"I just think, observing Rory today, that was the big thing that was lacking. My immediate takeaway is that with a stronger caddie, he would not have made the bogey he made on the 15th. He looked so comfortable and in control and he just needed to hit it to the front part of that green on 15. Easier said than done. And I really think he would have walked away with that trophy."
US Open theory
While a fair share of criticism has been thrown Diamond's way, the caddie has had bouts of support from the world of golf. One source of support came from McIlroy's former agent Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler, who claimed his ex-client's apparent inability to listen means Diamond shouldn't be blamed for his capitulation.
"You can’t blame the caddie because [McIlroy] doesn’t listen to anybody," Chandler said. "Everybody blaming the caddie does not know what they are talking about. 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?
"If he has hit 3-wood on the other three days, he probably doesn’t understand why he is going with driver. But if he butts in and [McIlroy] goes on and makes a bogey, it is his fault."
McIlroy defends Diamond
McIlroy himself has come out publicly to pledge his allegiance to his childhood friend and caddie as he blasted the critics who've stayed silent during their PGA Tour and Ryder Cup wins but sounded off on their US Open defeat.
During his address to the media prior to last week's Scottish Open, the 35-year-old staunchly defended Diamond as he said: "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.
"These guys that criticise when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way. Where were they when I won Dubai earlier year, or Quail Hollow, or the two FedEx Cups that I’ve won with Harry, or the two Ryder Cups, or whatever?
"They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win, but they are always there to criticize when we don’t win. At the end of the day, they are not there. They are in the in the arena. They are not the ones hitting the shots and making the decisions."
Shane Lowry response
McIlroy's compatriot Shane Lowry was another notable figure in golf who came to the defence of Diamond, admitting the criticism of the caddie "makes my blood boil".
Talking to BBC Sport NI on Tuesday (July 16), the Irishman said: "It makes my blood boil, to be honest, they don't see how hard Harry works and how good he is for Rory. Just because he's not standing in the middle of the tee box like other caddies who want to be seen and heard doesn't mean that his voice isn't heard by Rory.
"When you get to tournaments, he's always there before Rory, he's always walking the course. He works harder than any of the caddies out here."
Colin Montgomerie stance
Pepperell wasn't alone in his opinion that Diamond should have bore the blame last month as golf legend Colin Montgomerie admitted the caddie "should have stopped" McIlroy using a driver – a decision that the Scotsman believe could haunt the four-time major winner if he continues to go without a win in the sport's four most prestigious tournaments.
"He hadn’t [used driver on 18] all week and the caddie should have stopped him," Montgomerie told The Times. "Bryson was missing every fairway, the worst in the field on Sunday. At the end, he was just thrashing it and it was a long-drive competition. What a bunker shot, of course, but he got the luck and Rory didn’t.
"[Nick] Faldo said something on the commentary and I agree – if [McIlroy] does not win another major this could haunt him for the rest of his life, not just his career."
McIlroy was in action on Thursday (July 18) in The Open Championship - the sole major he's won twice during his career (2012 and 2014).
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