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Rory McIlroy fires long-time caddie J.P. Fitzgerald

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Rory McIlroy has fired long-time caddie J.P. Fitzgerald. The report comes from Reuters, which cited a source familiar with the matter.

With Fitzgerald on the bag the past nine years, the 28-year-old McIlroy won each of his four major championships and rose to the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Just two weeks ago, McIlroy credited Fitzgerald for his recovery from a disastrous start at The Open Championship. After carding 5-over par on the front nine, McIlroy played the final 63 holes in 10-under to finish T4.

McIlroy is expected to have a new caddie this week at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. The firing is yet to be confirmed by McIlroy or his team.

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25 Comments

25 Comments

  1. Devilsadvocate

    Aug 4, 2017 at 7:14 am

    Hahahaha well played

  2. freeze

    Aug 1, 2017 at 8:06 am

    why not wait until after the fedex cup is over. caddies call yardage and carry the bag, if you need more then that you are lost. he is chasing his 2011-2014 seasons, maybe that player or that circumstance is gone for good

  3. Darryl

    Aug 1, 2017 at 7:19 am

    He should have done this a while back, I don’t doubt JP’s credentials but McIlroy needs an enforcer on the bag, someone who will tell him flat out when he’s making a dumb choice of shot. How many times have we seen Rory, on a par 5, in wet 2 inch rough, ball sitting down, 3 wood in hand, 250 yards from a green with 100 yards of water to carry and the pin 3 paces from front? It doesn’t matter who you are, that’s not a great idea, unless you are sitting +1 and need to be -1 to play the weekend or that’s your card gone. The USPGA a couple of years back, 3 holes into the tournament, Rorys ball is sitting behind a meaty oak tree root and he pulls 6 iron and bangs it at the green, could have ended his week, his season and possibly his major winning career taking that risk. JP should have said, “boss, we’ve got 69 holes to go, chip out pitch on and try and hole the putt, don’t be silly”. Now he may have said that, we don’t know, but if he did and Rory ignored him he should have downed tools there and then. Rory is basically Lee Westwood with bottle, an amazing ball striker who spent (and, it appears, still spends) too little time on the short game. His belief is that he can pound courses into submission and the 32 shots he takes from tee to green on a good day balances out the 34 putts.

    • Someone

      Aug 1, 2017 at 3:43 pm

      the caddy isn’t to blame. every shot is the golfers choice. the caddy is there to carry the bag and possibly give their impression of the lay of the land. the golfer is always the only person responsible for their game.

  4. Winmac

    Aug 1, 2017 at 3:26 am

    I think he’ll be having an extra bone soon.

  5. JThunder

    Jul 31, 2017 at 10:31 pm

    Interesting that when Rory “fires” his caddie, he is criticized and belittled on everything from his putting to his personal relationships – yet when major corporate CEOs lay off thousands of people (which happens every month), it’s “just business” and “someone has to make the tough decisions”…

    How about a shank or two for Microsoft? JCPenny? Verizon?

    • Phil Knight

      Aug 1, 2017 at 12:09 am

      Have a hard time staying on topic? Making a leap from a golfer firing his caddie to complaining about corporate hiring practices is just stupid. It’s not even apples and oranges, more like apples and rhinoceroses’.

  6. Matt

    Jul 31, 2017 at 9:52 pm

    I wasn’t a Rory fan when he was winning majors. I like him a bit more now but this is a bad look. His game is what is lacking not the guy carrying the bag.

  7. ooffaa

    Jul 31, 2017 at 9:43 pm

    Brilliant editorializing over nothing much

  8. Rwj

    Jul 31, 2017 at 6:02 pm

    Married, he’ll never be the same. Garcia as well

    • DrRob1963

      Jul 31, 2017 at 10:35 pm

      Hey Rory – Put the bride on the bag!

  9. RG

    Jul 31, 2017 at 4:13 pm

    Rory, Im available. Have your people call my people.

  10. roland stanley

    Jul 31, 2017 at 3:48 pm

    maybe it will be tiger on the bag.

  11. jgpl001

    Jul 31, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    About time..if he wants to move to a new level
    JP is a nice guy, but not a top caddie
    Now for a new coach, he needs this also
    Unfortunately no changes will make him a better putter

  12. Dweebly

    Jul 31, 2017 at 10:55 am

    I heard it was Wozniaki after a stellar showing at the Par 3 contest.

  13. Someone

    Jul 31, 2017 at 10:53 am

    did he actually fire him? or did they just part ways like phil and bones? if it’s the latter, then this article is hugely blown it out of proportion.

    • neil

      Jul 31, 2017 at 10:59 am

      wont be fired.will work for Rory Foundation

      or will be well compensated ,million pay off

  14. Dave R

    Jul 31, 2017 at 10:19 am

    New wife new caddie. Huh!

  15. Mike

    Jul 31, 2017 at 10:13 am

    I’m Available to do the bag, very experienced and cheap lol

  16. Anders

    Jul 31, 2017 at 9:36 am

    Oh, so if all else fails, fire the caddie? Interesting to see if this works out or backfires. One thing for sure – there is a very good caddie available for work.

  17. Barry

    Jul 31, 2017 at 9:34 am

    He will hire Billy Foster if he’s smart

    (which he has not proven to be so far)

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