Rory McIlroy has praised his caddie Harry Diamond after sealing double success in Dubai. The Northern Irishman held off Rasmus Hojgaard to take the DP World Tour Championships by two strokes, which also ensured he finished top of the Race to Dubai standings for the sixth time.
That number draws him level with the legendary Seve Ballesteros, and the 35-year-old was emotional afterwards on the final green.
And he warmly embraced the Englishman, who has been on his bag since the 2017 season.
Diamond has come in for criticism this year amid perceptions he was partly at fault for McIlroy’s late meltdown at the US Open. However, after triumphing in Dubai, the Ryder Cup star singled out his assistant for praise.
“He gets his fair share of stick and it’s not warranted,” he told Sky Sports. “He’s an amazing caddie and the best friend I could ever ask for.”
It’s not the first time that McIlroy has stuck up for Diamond in 2024. His caddie came under scrutiny for letting his man take a driver on the 18th at Pinehurst, which left him in trouble before that now infamous missed short putt.
It led former PGA Tour pro and now commentator Smylie Kaufman to say: “I don’t ever really see Harry stepping in. Rory always, if he has a question, he’ll ask, but for the most part, Rory kind of goes and does his thing and he’s got a lot of feel.”
McIlroy hit back with: “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.
“I just wish that, you know, these guys that criticize when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way. They are never there to say Harry did such a great job when I win.”
McIlroy has never won a major alongside Diamond. However, he continues to be one of the most consistent performers in the world, and afterwards hailed the ‘fitting’ end to his latest campaign.
“It means a lot,” he said. “I’ve been through a lot this year. Professionally, personally, and it feels like the fitting end to 2024. I’ve persevered this year a lot, had close calls, wasn’t able to get it done, so to be able to get over the line today (means a lot).”
