Rory McIlroy insists he and caddie JP Fitzgerald remain as strong as ever and feels criticism of his bagman is misguided.
US Open champ claims Augusta meltdown was valuable experience
Rory McIlroy has insisted that his partnership with caddie JP Fitzgerald remains as strong as ever and claims that criticism of his bagman is misguided.
Fitzgerald was singled out by many observers after McIlroy's final round capitulation at the Masters in April when he let slip a four-shot lead by stumbling to a disastrous closing 80.
The Dubliner came in for stick over the role he played in McIlroy's course-management, but McIlroy has once again moved to defend his man.
The 22-year-old insists he was never tempted to part ways with Fitzgerald in the wake of that disappointment at Augusta and, indeed, feels their relationship has subsequently strengthened.
McIlroy told the
Irish Independent: "There was no point in me saying, 'JP didn't do a great job there (Augusta), I'm going to get someone else'.
"JP has been on my bag since the middle of 2008, when I was 200th in the world and he's helped bring me to where I am now (third).
Great relationship
"Here's a guy who has been with me for all five of my wins on Tour. He's been with me through some tough play-off losses. He's been with me through everything.
"I've a great relationship with JP. He's become one of my closest friends over the past two and a half years. It's a combination that works very well.
"I firmly believe if it ain't broke, don't fix it."
McIlroy admits that fateful Sunday was a steep learning curve for both him and Fitzgerald, adding: "We didn't communicate like we usually do with each other that Sunday.
"Usually we chat to each other around the golf course but it was completely different on Sunday at Augusta. It was both of us feeling the pressure of it. You've got to understand, it was the first time he'd been in that situation as well.
Learning process
"It was a learning process for both of us."
However, McIlroy now believes that his Augusta meltdown could prove a pivotal point in his career.
He demonstrated he had taken on board the lessons of that cruel loss by bouncing back to win the season's very next major in stunning style - cruising to the US Open crown at Congressional by an emphatic eight-shot margin.
Indeed, the Northern Irishman now believes he will look back at Augusta as his defining moment, stating: "Sunday at the Masters was huge for me.
"I reached a crossroads that day. Had I won, I could have kept going the one way. Yet after what happened, I really had to take responsibility for myself and my game and do what I needed to do to improve as a player.
"It was a huge disappointment at the time but when I look back in 20 years, I'll probably see it as the most important day of my career."
