The former caddie of Tiger Woods, Hank Haney, has reversed his stance on comments he made about Rory McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, following their collapse in the U.S. Open.
Last June, McIlroy was poised to end his major drought after several years but squandered a two-shot lead with five holes to play, ultimately handing victory to Bryson DeChambeau. This loss extended McIlroy’s quest for a fifth major, and the narrative of him being one of golf's biggest "bottle jobs" also persists.
Following the event, numerous opinions circulated on social media, including the suggestion that McIlroy should part ways with his current caddie and long-time friend, Harry Diamond. Haney was among the most vocal critics, asserting that McIlroy's choice to use a 7-iron off the tee on the 15th hole was Diamond’s fault.
"Rory has made a bad decision here. The bad decision is that he's kind of in between clubs—8-iron or 7-iron. He goes with a 7-iron," Haney said on his podcast.
No, I think his caddie is great for him. I never said he wasn’t great for Rory, I said they made a mistake on #15 at the US Open. I actually am actually a big fan of friend caddie’s, anyone can make a mistake. https://t.co/mViPhWvM8e
— Hank Haney (@HankHaney) August 24, 2024
"Tiger Woods would have never done that, ever. Rory McIlroy can send the ball straight up in the air, just like Tiger. When you've got brick-hard greens, you've got to send the ball up in the air; you've got to hit a high shot. You can't be coming with a punch shot, a flighted-down, less-than-full trajectory. There's no way that ball is going to stop on the green.
"It's a bad decision. When you get nervous, you make bad swings, and you make bad decisions."
McIlroy has continued to work with Diamond and responded to Haney's comments shortly after. This week, Haney commented on an X post noting McIlroy's frustration during the BMW Championship. A user asked Haney if he thought McIlroy might switch coaches by 2025.
Haney, who initially had reservations about Diamond, responded affirmatively, noting the positive impact of McIlroy’s relationship with his cousin.
"No, I think his dad is great for him," Haney said on X. "I never said he wasn't great for Rory; I said they made a mistake on #15 at the U.S. Open. I am actually a big fan of Rory’s caddie. Anyone can make a mistake."
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