Billy Foster: “Criticism of Harry Diamond is not fair at all”
Veteran caddie Billy Foster believes Rory McIlroy will have a huge year in the Majors and that cricitism of bagman Harry Diamond is out-of-bounds.
“The criticism is not fair at all,” Foster told Prime Casino https://www.primecasino.co.uk/blog/journal/billy-foster-exclusive/
“It makes me laugh really at the people getting on his back. He has just won two signature events and The Players’ Championship, in four starts and they’re still on his back.
“Give the lad a break. He’s a very good caddie. Harry, don't read the shite. That's simple as. Because it is shite.
“Somebody's opinion that is not educated, I think it's wrong. I'd leave Harry alone. Rory's playing better than anybody this year and they're still giving the caddy flack. It's out of order.
I can only see McIlroy and Diamond’s relationship getting stronger and stronger
“Harry is his best mate, isn’t he? He has always been. He was there before he started caddying for him. Harry was his best mate. Harry's a very good golfer in his own right too.
“He’s a plus two handicap or whatever he is and keeps himself to himself. He does everything right, he just needs to be left alone and left to get on with it.
“He does a really good job. I can only see the relationship getting stronger and stronger. He's caddied for him for a number of years now.
“Listen, we all make mistakes out there and you learn from them. You move on and that's it.”
“You can only have one mind and that's about concentrating on the tournament. Use the newspapers as fish and chip paper.
“Just prepare and do your best for the tournament you're involved in. You can't look back. You've got to move forward.”
Rory McIlroy is a different animal this year — I saw a key moment during the Players Championship that proved it
“I think what happened to Rory at the US Open last year has made him into a different animal to be quite honest. It's made him stronger, what happened to him.
“I said it at the start of the season, I think it'll make him a lot stronger going forward and he's showing that already. The way he played the last hole at Pebble Beach, an iron off the tee and laying it up and chipping on, which the Rory of old would have probably wanged a driver down there, he's maturing and looks mentally stronger through what happened at the US Open last year.
“It's just my own personal opinion but it’s the way he's carrying himself and the way he's speaking. You can tell he's a bit steelier and wiser. I can see him having a really, really big season.”
The majors are there for Rory to lose this year - he’s the hottest player in the world right now
“I find it staggering if Rory doesn't win a major this year. Obviously it’s only one month out of 11 this year but I think he’s playing so well. To think he won’t win at least one major this year, that would be amazing.
“Rory is up there as the best player in the world again this year. He is in the official world ranking points this year too, he's earned the most points so far, so he's obviously the hottest player in the world right now.”
