Rory McIlroy shares special moment he had with ‘oldest friend’ and caddy Harry Diamond after Masters win

He spoke about his big win while appearing at the Amgen Irish Open

Rory McIlroy reflected on the “amazing” moment he was able to share with friend and caddy Harry Diamond after his Masters win earlier this year.

The 36-year-old sealed his long-awaited victory in unforgettable fashion in April by defeating Justin Rose in a play-off.

Speaking at a panel talk at the Irish Open on Thursday, Rory shared details of what it felt like playing to claim his Master’s title and what it was like to do it with his “oldest friend”.

READ MORE: Rory McIlroy reveals caddie’s private comment that’ll stick with him until retirementREAD MORE: Rory McIlroy in rage at Irish Open after being handed official warning during first round

He said: “You’re trying to hold it together – Justin has finished out for a 4 and, you know, I’m over a 3-footer to win the Masters, not thinking about the 5-footer I just missed about 10 minutes previously, to win it.

“It was inside left and I set up and I lined it up and I was just like ‘just make a good stroke’, that’s all I was thinking of doing.

“I think when the ball went in, there was this brief moment of like ‘did this actually just happen’ and then, you know, the putter goes up in the air, I fall to my knees.”

Rory added that most people might not have known that when he fell to the ground he “screamed at the top of [his] lungs twice” before getting up to face the crowds.

“I mean just this visceral sort of whatever came out of me – just like a release,” he explained.

“Then I was sort of thinking ‘well I’ve got to get up and shake Justin’s hand here’ and I got up and the first person I saw was Harry and I screamed at him and he screamed at me.

“Harry is my oldest friend. I met Harry on the putting green at Holywood Golf Club when I was seven years old and to be able to do that with him and… be on this journey with me from the very beginning and to be able to finally do this thing and have him be alongside me to do it, that meant an awful lot to me.

“I’ll never forget those moments on that 18th green, it was amazing and you know hopefully Harry and I have a few more moments like that over the next few years.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.