Who Is Rory McIlroy’s Caddie? Meet Harry Diamond

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The proud proprietor of 5 Primary championships and shutting in on 50 skilled victories international, Rory McIlroy has loved a Corridor-of-Status occupation since turning professional in 2007.

Remarkably, right through that 20-year time-frame, the Northern Irishman has simplest labored with two long-term caddies.

The primary of which used to be JP Fitzgerald, who McIlroy introduced on board in 2009. All the way through their time in combination, McIlroy claimed his first 4 Majors in addition to a FedEx Cup and 3 Race To Dubai titles.

However, following his first winless season since 2008, McIlroy and Fitzgerald parted techniques in 2017 and a brand new bagman arrived at the scene.

It used to be anticipated to be a momentary alliance in the beginning, however McIlroy’s present caddie, Harry Diamond has in large part been with him ever since.

Any other of his buddies, Niall O’Connor, briefly carried McIlroy’s bag in 2022 – all the way through which period they gained the RBC Canadian Open in combination – however Diamond temporarily returned.

O’Connor, a chum who met McIlroy in his past due teenagers, additionally caddied for the Northern Irishman on the 2019 DP International Championship in Dubai. He performed high-level rugby for Ulster and could also be a prepared golfer. That partnership took place as a result of Diamond used to be anticipating a 2nd kid together with his spouse.

HOW DID MCILROY AND DIAMOND MEET?

McIlroy and Diamond are perfect buddies after rising up in combination in Holywood, Northern Eire and enjoying junior golfing in combination at Holywood Golfing Membership.

Whilst McIlroy went directly to experience a sterling professional occupation following heady days as an beginner, Diamond used to be additionally an impressive participant in his personal proper, representing Eire as a teen.

In 2012, the now-caddie gained the West of Eire Championship which earned him a place on the Irish Open that yr.

Despite the fact that it did not determine for Diamond as a golfer, he stayed in contact with McIlroy and the pair have accomplished such a lot of good stuff on a golfing route in combination.

And given they have identified each and every different for goodbye, they have got an improbable dating and working out at the golfing route in addition to off it.

In brief explaining the pair’s dynamic, McIlroy as soon as stated: “I used to be an simplest kid and Harry used to be a large brother. We’re very shut.

“I really like having him at the bag. I’m a special particular person. And I’m by no means going to present him sh** although one thing is going incorrect. It could no longer be price it.”

In addition to being on McIlroy’s bag, Diamond used to be additionally through his facet as Perfect Guy when his boss married Erica Stoll in County Meath in 2017. Diamond loved a spell off learning yardage booklets to prepare the stag birthday party in Miami, too.

WHO IS HARRY DIAMOND?

Clear of the route, Diamond is somewhat personal, staying clear of social media and announcing little or no about his paintings with McIlroy.

He’s believed to possess numerous his personal companies, together with a number of bars, however has seldom spoken in interviews through the years and prefers to stay the limelight on McIlroy.

IS HARRY DIAMOND A GOOD CADDIE?

Smartly, McIlroy unquestionably thinks so. Diamond has are available for spells of grievance all the way through his time operating with the previous International No.1, unfairly consistent with McIlroy, and the professional has leapt to his assistant’s defence each and every time.

Sooner than The Masters in 2026, McIlroy stated: “I believe, as neatly, as a result of Harry hates the highlight, hates doing any form of media, as a result of he is not as outspoken, other folks do not pay attention from him. So he by no means has a possibility to rise up for himself.

“That is the place I step in and I you need to be that one who stands up for him as a result of nobody is aware of what he is doing or considering or announcing as a result of he does not need someone to understand what he’s doing or considering or announcing.

“That is one of the most issues that I in reality respect about him, as neatly. He is clearly an excessively dependable buddy however on the identical time he is doing it only for the aim for us to move in the market and win Primary championships, and massive tournaments, and that’s the reason sufficient for him.”

Perhaps probably the most high-profile instance the place fanatics and likely sections of the media had been calling for a metamorphosis at the bag arrived following McIlroy’s past due cave in at the USA Open in 2024.

Some exterior events felt that McIlroy can have to transport on from Diamond if he sought after to win any other Primary, with one explicit bone of rivalry being a the most important membership selection within the last holes at Pinehurst No.2 which can have value the Northern Irish duo pricey.

Nonetheless, McIlroy stood company and fiercely defended his perfect buddy and caddie, calling out a few detractors through identify. He stated: “You recognize, it’s unquestionably unfair.

“Hank Haney hasn’t ever been in that place. Smylie has been in that place as soon as. I really like Smylie, and he used to be in the market with us on 18, however simply because Harry isn’t as vocal or loud together with his phrases as different caddies, it doesn’t imply that he doesn’t say the rest and that he doesn’t do the rest.

“I simply want that, , those guys that criticize when issues don’t cross my approach, they by no means say the rest just right when issues do cross my approach.

“So the place had been they once I gained Dubai previous yr, or Quail Hole, or the 2 FedExCups that I’ve gained with Harry, or the 2 Ryder Cups … or no matter? They’re by no means there to mention Harry did this sort of nice task once I win, however they’re at all times there to criticize after we don’t win.”

One instance of the experience Diamond brings arrived all the way through the last levels of the 2021 Wells Fargo Championship the place the caddie talked McIlroy into taking a penalty drop on the 72nd hollow. McIlroy readjusted to search out the golf green and in the end gained the match.

Reflecting on that second, McIlroy stated: “Harry used to be superior in the market, particularly that call at the final. I used to be able to get in there and take a look at to play that with a lob wedge and he used to be form of like, ‘Let’s take a step again, let’s take into consideration this. The place’s the most productive position you might be hitting your 3rd from?’

“So he form of calmed me down, slowed me down just a little bit and stated, ‘buddy, let’s simply take into consideration this.’ In the long run we made the fitting resolution.

“It is Harry and I’s 6th win in combination and it is more than likely been our perfect one. Bay Hill again in 2018 used to be nice as a result of I hadn’t gained shortly, however that is even higher simply because Harry’s been there each and every step of the best way.”

Virtually unquestionably the duo’s perfect yr so far used to be 2025. McIlroy bagged his 6th Race To Dubai identify later within the yr after opening up 2025 with luck on the Pebble Seaside Professional-Am and The Gamers Championship.

But it surely used to be their triumph at The Masters – the only obtrusive omission from the pair’s partnership – which justified McIlroy’s trust in his friend.

Within the aftermath of McIlroy’s ancient win, he had some heat phrases for Diamond, announcing: “I met him at the placing inexperienced at Holywood Golfing Membership. We have now had such a lot of just right instances in combination. He is been like a large brother to me the entire approach via my lifestyles.

“So that you could proportion this with him in spite of everything the shut calls that we’ve got had, all of the crap that he is needed to take from other folks that do not know the rest in regards to the sport, yeah, this one is solely as a lot his as it’s mine.

“He is an enormous a part of what I do, and I could not bring to mind someone higher to proportion it with than him.”

Virtually twelve months later, forward of The 2026 Masters, McIlroy reiterated how excessive a regard he holds Diamond in – in particular at the golfing route.

McIlroy stated: “I believe they (the fanatics and media) do not remember the fact that he supplies a degree of convenience at the golfing route for me that more than likely nobody else on this planet may just.

“You recognize, if I make a mistake, or we make a mistake, I am a lot much less more likely to get indignant or get troubled through it as a result of he is the only at the bag somewhat than somebody else.

“It is a lot more difficult for me to get indignant at myself or at him with him subsequent to me than it might be with somebody else.”

To this point, McIlroy and Diamond have gained 20 skilled titles in combination in addition to serving to Crew Europe to win the Ryder Cup house and away.