Rory McIlroy calls out Hank Haney, critics for bashing caddie Harry Diamond

Rory McIlroy has staunchly defended his caddie and friend, Harry Diamond, against recent criticisms. Diamond has been caddying for McIlroy since 2017, though their friendship dates back to childhood, and Diamond was even McIlroy’s best man in 2018. Their partnership has seen significant success, with McIlroy often praising Diamond for fostering a comfortable working environment.

However, some critics argue that Diamond’s perceived deference to McIlroy has hindered McIlroy’s ability to win major titles since 2014. These criticisms intensified after the recent U.S. Open, where instructor Hank Haney and NBC Sports analyst Smylie Kaufman blamed Diamond for a key mistake.

Kaufman specifically pointed to the 15th hole, suggesting Diamond should have intervened to prevent McIlroy from using the wrong club. Kaufman believed that an 8-iron, rather than a 7-iron, was the appropriate choice, which might have allowed McIlroy to control the championship better. Haney echoed this sentiment, asserting that a more experienced caddie like Stevie Williams would have prevented such errors.

Responding from the Genesis Scottish Open, McIlroy called the criticism “unfair.” He argued that neither Haney nor Kaufman had enough experience in similar situations to judge. McIlroy emphasized that Diamond’s quieter approach doesn’t mean he isn’t contributing effectively.

McIlroy highlighted that Diamond receives no credit for successes, like McIlroy’s three wins in 2024, Ryder Cup performance, or titles in the Race to Dubai and FedEx Cup. Critics, he noted, only speak up when things go wrong.

“These critics are not in the arena, hitting the shots, and making decisions,” McIlroy said. He reiterated his confidence in Diamond and dismissed advice from Haney while expressing respect for Kaufman. McIlroy, 35, aims to defend his title at the Scottish Open, teeing off Thursday at 3:28 a.m. ET with Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre.