As Rory McIlory goes in search of another major at the PGA Championship this week, we thought we’d take a look at Rory’s right-hand man, caddie Harry Diamond.
The Co Down man has been on Rory’s bag since the end of 2017 and has helped him through some important challenges on the course,
one notable occasion was at the Wells Fargo Championship in 2021 when Diamond’s advice on the last hole helped McIlroy seal his victory.
So who is Harry Diamond and how did he become McIlroy’s caddie? Here are a few interesting facts about McIlroy’s fellow NI native.
1. You’ve got a friend in me
McIlroy and Diamond are best friends having both grown up together in Holywood, Co Down.
Diamond was also McIlroy’s best man when he married Erica Stoll at a lavish ceremony in Ashford Castle, Co Meath in 2017. Before taking up the role in a professional capacity, McIlroy had always supported his best friend’s career and also caddied for him during a practice round at the 2005 Irish Open and also in the Par Three tournament at the 2011 Masters.
2. Diamond could have turned pro himself
Diamond’s knowledge of the game isn’t limited to coaching his best pal on the course, he himself could have turned pro and won the 2012 West of Ireland Championship which earned him a spot at the Irish Open that year.
3. How did he land the role?
When McIlroy split with long-term caddie JP Fitzgerald just ahead of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational in 2017, he turned to best mate Harry to fill the role.
Many thought it would be a temporary feature until McIlroy sought out a more experienced man for the job but McIlroy stuck with his choice and has hailed Diamond as “one of the best caddies out here, if not the best.”
4. Why their relationship works
Many might think having someone who is a close friend working alongside you in an extremely tense and difficult game as a distraction, but McIlroy trusts Diamond and the pair seem to share a very special bond.
In an interview McIlroy said: “I was an only child and Harry was a big brother.
“We’re very close. I love having him on the bag. I’m a different person. And I’m never going to give him sh** even if something goes wrong. It would not be worth it,” McIlroy added.
5. Diamond ‘s a big influence
When McIlroy was seemingly sailing to victory at the Wells Fargo Championship in May 2021, it was caddie Harry who stepped up and told McIlroy the best shot to take.
After McIlroy’s his tee-shot hooked wide and his ball ended up in a deep, sloping lie to the left of a creek running the length of the finishing hole, the major winner wanted to try and gouge the ball back onto the fairway, but he was persuaded by Diamond to take a penalty drop instead.
The four-time major champion duly took his caddy’s advice and played a brilliant recovery shot onto the green from where he two putted for a one shot victory over Abraham Ancer.
“Harry was awesome out there today, especially that decision on the last,” McIlroy said of his caddy and close friend.
6. Diamond has his own bustling business empire
The Holywood native isn’t just Rory’s bag man, he owns a number of his own businesses including several bars. It’s believed his business empire is one of the reasons he didn’t follow his pal down the pro golfer route.
7. He’s private just like his boss
Since taking up the role as McIlroy’s caddie, Diamond hasn’t been active on his social media accounts and seems to lead a private life out of the spotlight, just like McIlroy. Despite tying the knot to wife Erica Stoll in a huge ceremony attended by some big name stars including Ed Sheeran, McIlroy has kept pictures of his big day out of the spotlight.
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Source: USA Today
