Golf superstar Rory McIlroy has shared details of a unique and sentimental early Christmas gift from his long-time caddie, Harry Diamond, capping off a monumental year that forever altered his place in the sport's history.
A Historic Season Sealed with a Personal Gift
The 2025 season will be remembered as the year Rory McIlroy finally completed the career Grand Slam, a feat achieved by only a handful of golfers. The Northern Irishman's victory at The Masters in April 2025 at Augusta National cemented his status, making him the sixth male player ever to win all four major championships.
McIlroy, currently on a break, reflected on the year during an appearance on The Shotgun Start podcast. He revealed that Diamond presented him with a framed Augusta National card in Australia, following the Australian Open. "Harry gave this to me sort of as an early Christmas present in Australia last week, and it's the first time that anyone has really seen it," McIlroy explained.
The framed piece held profound significance, featuring the signatures of the other five Grand Slam winners: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods. Diamond reportedly handed McIlroy a Sharpie and asked if he wanted to add his own signature to the historic collection.
The Grand Slam and a Ryder Cup Triumph
McIlroy's annus mirabilis extended beyond his Masters triumph. He was a key member of the victorious European Ryder Cup team that won on U.S. soil later in the year. Furthermore, he clinched a seventh Race to Dubai title, surpassing the legendary Seve Ballesteros and moving within one of Colin Montgomerie's record of eight.
His final event of 2025 was the Australian Open at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, where he finished tied for 14th, eight shots behind winner Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen.
A Lucrative Year for Caddie Harry Diamond
Such a spectacularly successful season for McIlroy also translated into significant financial rewards for his caddie and close friend, Harry Diamond. Industry standards suggest caddies typically earn between five to ten percent of a player's prize money, particularly when they win.
Given McIlroy's substantial earnings in 2025, headlined by his Masters win, reports indicate that Diamond could have received a bonus in the region of $1.67 million (approximately £1.24 million). This staggering sum underscores the value of their successful partnership at the pinnacle of the sport.
Looking ahead, McIlroy couldn't resist a playful jab at his closest rival. When presented with the card to sign, he declined, joking, "I just said I hope I don't have to get Scottie [Scheffler] to sign it next year." Scheffler, who has won three different majors, needs only a U.S. Open victory to join the elite Grand Slam club himself.
McIlroy's 2026 campaign is expected to begin in mid-January at the PGA Tour's Sony Open in Hawaii, where he will look to build on a year that has also seen him nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.
