Shane Lowry: Criticism of Rory McIlroy's Diamond caddie 'makes my blood boil'

Coach Hank Haney and Golf Channel analyst Smylie Kaufman were among those to query Diamond.

LONG-TIME FRIENDS: Rory McIlroy speaks with his caddie Harry Diamond on the 5th hole during day four of the Genesis Scottish Open. Pic: Malcolm Mackenzie/PA Wire.

Shane Lowry has launched an impassioned defence of Rory McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond who came in for strong criticism after his player’s failure to get over the line at the US Open in Pinehurst last month.

McIlroy missed two agonizing putts at 16 and 18, the latter after choosing his driver on the last hole when the more judicious option would have been to reach for something, anything, else given Bryson DeChambeau’s penchant for rolling the dice off the tee.

Fingers were also pointed at Diamond’s direction in light of McIlroy’s tee shot at the par-3 15th which went long over the green. 

Coach Hank Haney and Golf Channel analyst Smylie Kaufman were among those to query the choice of club and the bag man’s role.

McIlroy was quick to back up his old friend when he returned to action last week at the Genesis Scottish Open, pointing out that the critics had nothing to say on the many occasions McIlroy has come through in a tournament.

“It's the one thing that really drives me insane,” said Lowry on the Royal Troon driving range. “I watched Rory and watched him miss those two putts and not win and then you have people criticising him and Harry which is, I mean, it really makes my blood boil.

“Harry Diamond is the best person in the world to caddy for Rory McIlroy and I see it week in, week out. He works harder than any of the caddies out here, he's always here before him, walking the courses.

“He's there for him and, even though he's not in the middle of the tee box like all these caddies who want to be on TV talking loud and telling Rory what to do, he still makes his voice heard. Until you live that moment and that situation you never know how it is.” 

Lowry knew the putt on 18 would be tricky as soon as McIlroy’s approach landed. The Offaly man had a similar effort from 20-feet up the hill and felt McIlroy just couldn’t engineer enough break into the stroke.

His support for Diamond was echoed by his understanding of what McIlroy would have felt as the latter made a quick retreat from Pinehurst that Sunday evening, not least given his own final round frustrations eight years earlier.

Lowry was leading that year’s US Open by two strokes heading into day four but a closing round 76 cost him his chance of what would have been his maiden major and he had to settle for a tie for second, three shots adrift of Dustin Johnson.

“Shane Lowry in 2016 and Rory McIlroy in 2024 are two completely different people so I think Rory will be able to handle it a lot better than I did. I really struggled for the next few months after the US Open and I was open about that.

“But I'm sure Rory will be fine, he looked like he played some nice golf last week [at the Genesis Scottish Open]. I watched a bit of it and he seems to be in great form on and off the course. I feel he will bounce back nicely this week.”