The Open 2024: Shane Lowry says criticism of Rory McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond makes his ‘blood boil’

Venue: Royal Troon Dates: Thu 18-Sun 21 July

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Shane Lowry says he will “argue with anyone” who suggests Rory McIlroy’s attempts to win a fifth major would be boosted by a change of caddie.

McIlroy won the Open a decade ago this week but, as he arrived at Royal Troon for this year’s championship, the Northern Irishman has not won one of the sport’s four biggest prizes since the 2014 USPGA Championship.

The world number two has endured a number of close calls since, perhaps most painfully at the US Open last month where he bogeyed three of the last four holes to lose the title to American Bryson DeChambeau by a single stroke.

In the aftermath of that collapse, McIlroy’s caddie and childhood friend Harry Diamond was criticised for club selection over the closing stretch, something Lowry believes is the product of ignorance as to what “goes on week in, week out” on the PGA Tour.

“It makes my blood boil, to be honest,” the Irishman told BBC Sport NI.

“They don’t see how hard Harry works and how good he is for Rory.

“Just because he’s not standing in the middle of the tee box like other caddies who want to be seen and heard doesn’t mean that his voice isn’t heard by Rory.

“When you get to tournaments, he’s always there before Rory, he’s always walking the course. He works harder than any of the caddies out here.”