It has been a year of change for Rory McIlroy, who has switched equipment companies, gotten married, and now split with his longtime caddie JP Fitzgerald.

On form, Rory McIlroy is one of those extraordinary athletes we see only every so often in our lifetime. 

Catch up on some of the stories and issues highlighted on irishexaminer.com this morning.

The timing of the decision rather than the actual ending of the nine-year player-caddie relationship between Rory McIlroy and JP Fitzgerald was the biggest surprise for Paul McGinley.

Rory McIlroy will answer questions about his caddie on Wednesday, according to his manager.

If nothing else, the 146th Open Championship will go down as the major of the meaningful caddie intervention.

South Africa's Shaun Norris made the most of the best conditions of the day as the third round of the 146th Open Championship got under way on Saturday.

An "ecstatic" Rory McIlroy had no need for a pep talk after one of his best Open Championship rounds kept him firmly in contention for a fifth major title at a wet and windy Royal Birkdale.

Rory McIlroy moved under par heading into the weekend at The Open and reminded himself to stay positive over the coming 36 holes as he bids to chase down halfway leader Jordan Spieth at Royal Birkdale.

If ever you wanted to demonstrate to a young child just how quickly the fortunes in sport can turn around (once you have the right mindset), then all you have to do is look at how Rory McIlroy’s performance improved on Thursday and again yesterday, after the sharp rebuke from his caddy JP Fitzgerald, writes John McHenry.

Rory McIlroy staged a stirring Open Championship fightback at Royal Birkdale that will send him into today’s second round feeling he can get right among the leaders.

If impressions count, then it is hard to explain just how impressed I was with Portstewart for the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, writes John McHenry.

Memories of the 1987 final at Tramore will be revived this week when the AIG Irish Close Championship takes place over the outstanding seaside layout for the third time.

Golfer Rory McIlroy gave fans a glimpse into his luxury lifestyle as he celebrated his latest sporting victory in his private jet.

Dubai’s Majlis Course holds happy memories for 25-year-old Rory McIlroy and the Irishman is hoping to add to them this weekend.

After more than 500 rounds of European Tour competition, Rory McIlroy recorded his first hole-in-one on day two of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship.

Golfer Rory McIlroy’s father is to be asked to produce documents as part of his son’s legal dispute with a sports management company, the Commercial Court has heard.

The best golfer on the planet will bid to sprinkle some of his winning magic around Old Trafford this weekend when he indulges in his other sporting passion — Manchester United.

European Ryder Cup skipper Paul McGinley singled out Rory McIlroy’s loyalty and single mindedness as key to his incredible dominance this season.

When Rory McIlroy took a two-shot lead into the weekend at Valhalla he was asked about the keys to his amazing summer.

-Judge: Details on McDowell’s role in sports agency to be disclosed

Some caddies find it difficult to live by the age-old maxim to keep up and shut up but that’s no problem for JP Fitzgerald.

Winning the Open Championship was never going to be easy and so it shouldn’t be either.

How do you judge a person’s ability, especially if that person is already a superstar, someone as talented as Rory McIlroy?

What do you give to a 25-year-old who has virtually everything?

FULL equality for gay, lesbian, and transgender people has been described as the last civil and human rights campaign. I support that proposition.

Rory McIlroy clearly displayed how driven he remains to end the season on a victory note in avoiding the distraction of a row of Ferraris, a former Miss World and a golf course full of stunning models at the Els Club in Dubai.

Abbeyside 3-16 Fourmilewater 0-06

Approach the first tee at Carton House and you are faced with a giant poster on the back of the stand adorned with images of six famous Irish golfers.

Rory McIlroy is hoping the old racing adage about horses for courses holds true this week when he returns to action in the Wells Fargo Championship on the PGA US Tour in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Rory McIlroy and Pádraig Harrington, two of Ireland’s five challengers in this week’s Masters, honed their skills ahead of Augusta with impressive performances as they remained very much in contention for the major prizes entering the closing holes in the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio.

Rory McIlroy’s last-ditch bid to find some form before next week’s US Masters stuttered after a promising start in the Valero Texas Open today.

Rory McIlroy shakes hands with Ernie Els before walking in.

A remarkable Singles Sunday at the Ryder Cup in Medinah wasn't just a case of ‘what if’ for the USA. A series of fortunate twists diverted the Big Mo to Olazabal’s Europe. Was Seve watching, asks Simon Lewis?

It is little more than 18 months since JP Fitzgerald was vilified for his perceived part in Rory McIlroy’s meltdown in the final round of the Masters.

It is extremely rare for Rory McIlroy’s caddy to walk into the scorer’s hut on the first day of any tournament enquiring of the cut-off mark.

The Nire 3-13 Clashmore/Kinsalebeg 0-15

It will take quite a while for Rory McIlroy to live down the fact he nearly scuppered Europe’s Ryder Cup victory bid before it had even begun.

While spectators cooled off in the nearby Atlantic Ocean, Rory McIlroy quickly warmed to a second Major success with a five under par 67 on day one of the 94th PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

Noel Pyne reaches a remarkable milestone when he makes his 50th successive appearance in the South of Ireland Championship at Lahinch next Saturday.

Paul McGinley fully acknowledges he is widely regarded as a red-hot favourite to become the first Irish captain of the 2014 European Ryder Cup team.

HAVING consolidated his place at the top of the world rankings by finishing third in the WGC Cadillac event at the weekend, Rory McIlroy takes a three-week break before the Masters at Augusta on April 5.

After singing the praises of his caddy a day earlier, it was the turn of Rory McIlroy’s bagman, JP Fitzgerald, to repay the favour at yesterday’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic.