Rory McIlroy's caddie repeated his Masters trick at the PGA Championship this week after the Northern Irishman endured a nightmare start. Harry Diamond famously told McIlroy to hit some balls on the driving range following his Saturday struggles at this year's Masters, which proved crucial in McIlroy going on to win his second Green Jacket in a row.
McIlroy had squandered a lead last month and found himself tied with Cameron Young going into the final round. He was left visibly frustrated before Diamond convinced him to head to the Augusta National practice facility, where they spent the evening fixing his swing path. That session under the lights paid off massively as he hit the crucial shots he practiced on the range the following day, helping him beat Scottie Scheffler by one to secure his sixth major title.
Speaking afterwards, McIlroy told the Golf Channel: "I think I needed it, and Harry was the one. When we were in scoring, he said, 'Why don't we hit a few balls, try to straighten this out? I'll get over there, do your media, and I'll get over there.' I was like, 'Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.'"
Given how well it worked for him at the Masters, the world No.2 went on to do the exact same thing at the PGA Championship. McIlroy, a pre-tournament favourite to win the PGA Championship a third time, struggled in the first round of the major earlier in the week. The 37-year-old carded 74 on Thursday at Aronimink Golf Club, where he ended the day with four bogeys in a row after being level par. He admitted he needed to improve his "wayward" driving and afterwards went to hit some balls on the driving range with his caddie.
McIlroy finished his first round at around 2pm and was seen grinding on the range until at least four hours later. It appeared to pay off again as he showcased improved driving on Friday. He put himself back into contention with a bogey-free three-under 67 in the second round, reviving his hopes of winning the tournament for the first time since 2014. McIlroy heads into Saturday's action T30 and five strokes off the lead.
