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Rory McIlroy has sacked long-term caddie J.P. Fitzgerald, it has been reported.
A source close to the duo told Reuters that McIlroy will have a new caddie on the bag at this week’s WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, ending a relationship that has last has lasted nine years.
The news comes just over a week after McIlroy publicly praised his caddie for kicking him into gear at the Open at Royal Birkdale, where he bounced back after being five-over-par through six holes to finish T4.
“I didn’t have as much belief in myself as I should have and J.P.
gave me a good talking to on the sixth tee box,” said McIlroy. “He
reminded me who I was, basically.
“He said, ‘You’re Rory McIlroy – what are you doing? Or what the f*** are you doing?’. At that point, I sort of mumbled but it helped – it definitely helped. You’ve got to be positive and he did a great job.”
No comment has come yet from McIlroy or his management team, with the four-time major winner expected to confirm J.P.’s departure when addressing the media on Wednesday at Akron.
It is understood that McIlroy’s best friend, Harry Diamond (above), will caddie for him at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and also next week’s PGA Championship.
Diamond, 32, was McIlroy’s best man at his recent wedding to Erica Stoll and has caddied for him before during a practice round at the 2005 Irish Open, while they were together again at the Masters Par-3 Contest in 2011 and 2014 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
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