While Rory McIlroy continues to bask in the adulation of his latest Masters triumph, there is someone pivotal to his success who will also be celebrating for more than one reason.
McIlroy successfully defended his Masters title on Sunday, finishing on 12-under-par to win by one shot from Scottie Scheffler, to clinch his sixth career major.
The 36-year-old wrote himself into Augusta folklore too by becoming just the fourth golfer to win in successive years at the Georgia golf course after Jack Nicklaus, Sir Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods.
As well as the glory, McIlroy has also seen his bank account enhanced by £3.35million ($4.5m) in prize money from the achievement.
It’s not just McIlroy who will be financially better off after Sunday’s round, with his caddie Harry Diamond also benefitting.
While it is unclear how much Diamond would have exactly earned, a caddie usually takes a 10 per cent cut of his golfer’s prize money for a victory, seven per cent for a top-10 finish and five per cent for making the cut.
Rory McIlroy’s caddie Harry Diamond earned an estimated £335,000 following the former’s latest Masters triumph on Sunday at Augusta
Caddies usually take 10 per cent of their golfer’s prize money from winning a tournament – with McIlroy collecting £3.35m after a second-straight Masters victory
On the basis of that math, Diamond’s earnings would equate to roughly £335,000.
Diamond’s six-figure sum would be substantially more than a lot of the field. For example, it would be more than four times what former Masters champion Jon Rahm collected for finishing in a three-way tie for 38th. The Spaniard, who finished one-over-par for the tournament, received £75,309 ($101,250) in prize money.
Diamond has been McIlroy’s caddie since 2017 and their relationship dates back to being prodigiously talented children at Holywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland.
After putting on the 18th green on Sunday, Diamond was the first person McIlroy hugged as he celebrated the moment with his best friend.
Reflecting on his bond with Diamond earlier this year, McIlroy said: ‘I think as an only child… he was like the big brother I never had, you know?
‘And I think that’s what makes it so special.
‘He’s got a little brother and a big sister, so he’s always had that. But I always felt like Harry was my big brother.
‘And I feel like that’s why when I talk about it, it makes me emotional.’
Diamond’s cut is four times more than Jon Rahm who finished in a three-way tie for 38th
Speaking after his Masters triumph last year, McIlroy paid homage to Diamond, saying: ‘I’ve known Harry since I was seven years old.
‘I met him on the putting green at Holywood Golf Club. We’ve had so many good times together. He’s been like a big brother to me the whole way through my life.
‘To be able to share this with him after all the close calls that we’ve had, all the [nonsense] that he’s had to take from people that don’t know anything about the game, yeah, this one is just as much his as it is mine.
‘He’s a massive part of what I do, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to share it with than him.’
