Rory McIlroy has fired his long-time caddie JP Fitzgerald, a source familiar with the Northern Irishman claimed on Sunday, ending a partnership that took the 28-year-old to four Major titles and the top of the world rankings.
McIlroy will have a new caddie on his bag this week at the World Golf Championships Bridgestone Invitational after ending his nine-year relationship with his fellow Irishman, the source, who did not want to be named, said.
There was no immediate response from McIlroy’s management team to an e-mailed request for comment late on Sunday.
Got a text yest from a friend (he’s a reliable source) telling me #RoryMcIlroy has sacked his caddy JP Fitzgerald, looks like it’s true
— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) July 31, 2017
Fitzgerald’s sacking, which McIlroy is expected to confirm on his arrival at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, comes barely a week after he publicly thanked his bagman for jolting him into gear when he made a poor start to The Open.
With Phil Mickelson parting ways with his caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay at the start of August, it appears to be a traumatic time to caddie for the world’s elite.