In another end-of-season session with the media Rory McIlroy insisted his caddy, J P Fitzgerald will be by his side when he tees up for a first event of 2012.
Despite much criticism in recent times McIlroy defended his caddy when he sat down with the Irish press to review his season.
McIlroy had sat down last fortnight in Dubai with those who regularly attend European Tour events and while news from this latest ‘meet the press’ session was hardly surprising, the reigning U.S. Open champion did touch on one or two points of interest.
One clear point was that he has faith in J.P. Fitzgerald and described the Dublin bagman as “one of my closest friends”.
Fitzgerald came in serious criticism in the wake McIlroy’s meltdown during the final round of the Masters at Augusta.
McIlroy stands by caddy - J P Fitzgerald.
Former double Masters winner, Jose Maria Olazabal spoke exclusivly with www.golfbytourmiss.com at Altanta Airport the day after the Masters, and with the European Ryder Cup captain critical for allowing McIlroy to take driver on a number of holes including the second, ninth and fateful 10th holes.
There had first been criticism of Fitzgerald when McIlroy lost the Omega European Masters to Frenchman Jean Francois Lucquin.
However Fitzgerald did not come into the spotlight as much as he did that final day in April.
However the 22-year-old McIlro bounced back from his Masters meltdoown in magnificent fashion to win the US Open less than eight weeks later with Fitzgerald at his side.
And while McIlroy has mentioned this before he went over again what he said earlier this year.
“We sat down after Augusta and realised where we both went wrong,” said McIlroy.
“We didn’t communicate like we usually do. Everything went very quiet. Everything went way too serious. Okay, you’re leading the Masters so of course it’s serious.
“But it was different from the way I treated the Thursday at the Masters. I’d warm up, I’d chat, I’d just be loose, then go out and shoot 65. There is no reason why it shouldn’t be exactly like that on the Sunday afternoon. You’re just going out to play 18 holes of golf.”
And McIlroy has insisted if he were to stand on the 10th tee next April and still leading by one shot as he was this year, he would still as J P to hand him his driver when most, including Olazabal state 3-wood to be the best option.
“I hit the same club I had hit the three previous days,” he stated.
“If you have a game plan, you stick to it. Driver was the game plan and I was comfortable with it. I was actually more comfortable that week turning my driver rather than 3-wood.
“My 3-wood comes off with a lot lower spin so it’s hard to get turn on it like the driver except that the driver turned too much! I won’t be under pressure next time because I’ve been there.
“I remember coming off the first tee at Congressional on Sunday and saying to JP, we need to keep talking to ourselves. You know, it’s a two-way thing. If he goes quiet, I need to talk to him and if I go quiet, he needs to talk to me.
“That’s something that was completely different on the Sunday at Augusta. Both of us were feeling the pressure. It was the first time he’s ever been in that position so it was a learning process for both of us.
“J.P. has been on my bag since the middle of 2008 when I was 200th in the world. I’m now third. He’s a guy who’s been with me through all my five wins on tour. He’s been with me through some tough play-off losses, with me through everything.
“So if it’s not broke, you don’t fix it.
“I have a great relationship with JP. He’s become one of my closest friends over the past three years and it’s a combination I think is working very well.”
