Rory McIlroy's long-standing decision to have his childhood confidant, Harry Diamond, serve as his caddie has consistently sparked debate within the professional golf community. Unlike many elite players who seek out caddies with extensive experience in gauging distances and interpreting greens, McIlroy opts for a familiar face. Despite Diamond's own accomplished amateur golf career, including representing Ireland and winning the 2012 West of Ireland Championship, his professional caddying background was minimal before he joined McIlroy's team in 2017. Their journey together has been marked by significant victories, most notably a Masters win, yet it has also been plagued by critiques, which reached a peak following McIlroy's disappointing performance at the 2024 US Open, partly attributed to questionable club selections.
The scrutiny surrounding their partnership temporarily subsided after McIlroy achieved a career grand slam. However, his recent remarks have reignited discussions, hinting that Diamond's presence might be hindering McIlroy's ability to consistently challenge rivals like Scottie Scheffler. A recurring point of contention is Diamond's less assertive approach as a caddie, often failing to intervene decisively during critical moments to preempt McIlroy's errors. This contrasts with the collaborative dynamic often observed between top players and their caddies, particularly in the nuanced art of green-reading, where McIlroy largely relies on his own judgment.
This became particularly evident during last week's Genesis Invitational. McIlroy narrowly missed securing his second PGA Tour title of the season, with his putting game proving to be his Achilles' heel against Jacob Bridgeman. Post-round, he candidly admitted, "Once I started to trust my reads a bit on the back nine, and I went more with my first instinct, I putted a little bit better." He elaborated that he had been overthinking his reads, influenced by observing other players' putts, and that this analytical overload ultimately cost him the victory. An essential function of an elite caddie is to identify such mid-round struggles and offer timely guidance, yet Diamond's perceived lack of intervention meant that by the time McIlroy self-corrected, it was already too late to secure the win.
The hypothetical scenario of McIlroy having a caddie of Ted Scott's caliber, Scheffler's renowned bagman, at the Genesis Invitational sparks contemplation. Many believe that with such an expert by his side, McIlroy's victory would have been almost inevitable. Scheffler, unequivocally the world's number one golfer, a four-time major champion, and an Olympic Gold medalist, himself acknowledges Scott's indispensable contribution to his success. Despite Scheffler's exceptional ball-striking prowess, his putting has historically been a weakness. This was glaringly apparent leading up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, where his performance on the greens was lackluster through the initial two rounds.
A pivotal mid-tournament intervention by Scott proved to be the turning point, ultimately paving the way for Scheffler's Olympic gold. Recalling the event in 2025, Scheffler shared, "At the Olympics last year, it was a great example of a week where I was struggling on the greens and we made the turn on Sunday. I missed another easy birdie putt on nine and all of a sudden the tournament was getting away from me." He described feeling out of medal contention until Scott stepped in to read his putts for the entire back nine. This collaboration led to a remarkable comeback, with Scheffler making nearly every putt and ultimately clinching the gold medal. Reflecting on that moment, Scheffler emphasized, "I literally do not think I could have won this golf tournament without you on my bag." Their synchronized effort on the back nine saw Scheffler birdie six of his final nine holes, including four consecutive birdies from the 14th to the 17th, tying the course record with an impressive 9-under 62.
This highlights the profound impact an expert green-reading caddie can have on a golfer's performance. Much of McIlroy's early career triumphs, including his four major championships, were achieved with veteran caddie JP Fitzgerald. Their partnership ended in 2017, and it is increasingly apparent that if McIlroy aspires to reach and consistently compete at the level of players like Scheffler, a strategic reevaluation of his caddie situation might be necessary. The comparison between the two golfers underscores that a caddie is not merely a bag-carrier but a crucial strategic partner whose insights can profoundly influence a player's destiny on the course.