McIlroy’s Toughest Decision Yet – Will Betraying His Best Friend Lead to Major Glory?

Rory McIlroy is being urged to make a career-defining decision—one that could finally end his 11-year major championship drought. Former PGA Tour pro Nick O’Hern believes the Northern Irish superstar must part ways with his longtime caddie and best friend, Harry Diamond, in favor of veteran caddie Billy Foster, who recently split from Matt Fitzpatrick.

With McIlroy set to chase his elusive Green Jacket at Augusta next month, O’Hern insists that only an elite caddie can guide him to victory. Speaking on the Talk Birdie To Me podcast, O’Hern pointed out McIlroy’s costly mistakes at last year’s U.S. Open and argued that Foster’s experience could have made the difference.

Harry Diamond has been caddying for Rory McIlroy since 2017 (Image: Getty Images)

“A great caddie would have stopped Rory from making those critical errors. Billy Foster is the kind of guy who would’ve said, ‘No Rory, we’re doing this the right way,’” O’Hern stated.

Despite recent wins at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and The Players Championship, McIlroy remains without a Masters victory. Foster, who has caddied for legends like Seve Ballesteros, Sergio Garcia, and Lee Westwood, played a crucial role in Fitzpatrick’s 2022 U.S. Open triumph. Could he now be the missing piece to McIlroy’s long-awaited return to major-winning form?

With the Masters just weeks away, McIlroy faces a tough decision: loyalty or legacy?