Rory McIlroy has split with his long-time caddy JP Fitzgerald, according to reports on Monday morning.
Fitzgerald has been on McIlroy's bag for all of his four major victories, but the Dubliner has come under consistent scrutiny for his performances in recent times.
Ahead of the Masters in April, Golf Digest interviewed numerous players, caddies, coaches and other observers for their thoughts on what it takes to win the tournament and who was likely to win at Augusta.
All those interviewed remained anonymous for the article. Perhaps that knowledge made them extra candid in what they had to say.
The section regarding Rory McIlroy made for particularly interesting reading. The Northern Irishman ended up finishing in a tie for seventh, six-shots behind eventual winner Sergio Garcia.
After some thoughts were expressed about how McIlroy's rib injury, sustained and recovered from earlier this year, would affect his game, and his putting woes analysed, the 28-year-old's caddy, JP Fitzgerald, came in for particular criticism.
The most notable claim is that if McIlroy had employed Billy Foster (Lee Westwood's current caddy) rather than Fitzgerald, who has been on his bag for the last nine years, he would have ten majors to his name rather than just four.
"Rory is an in-and-out chipper, and his clubbing is suspect at times. How often do you see him and [caddie J.P. Fitzgerald] looking at each other in shock after his ball has finished 20 yards over the back?"
"If you listen to them on the course, you often hear Rory asking, 'What happened there?' More than once I've heard J.P. saying something like, 'OK, hit a soft draw with a 6-iron off that tree.' And I've immediately thought, This ball is going over the green. And sure enough, it does. So you have to wonder. I see Rory up close only occasionally, and I know he's going to hit the ball over the green when his caddie clearly doesn't. It makes no sense." . . .
"Rory needs someone to tell him what he needs to hear, not what he wants to hear."
"Why he doesn't employ Billy Foster is a mystery. Rory would have 10 majors by now if he did. Of course, we know what Rory is like. He's as stubborn as anyone on tour. The more people tell him that J.P. is not the right caddie for him, the more he'll keep him on."
Earlier this month at The Open, McIlroy was effusive in his praise for Fitzgerald, but it looks like the relationship has come to an end.
SEE ALSO: A Scolding From JP Was The Catalyst For Rory McIlroy's Incredible Comeback At The Open
