Golfer Rory McIlroy ‘must find a new caddy to save himself’ - Harsh ESPN criticism after Rory wrist injury at PGA
Posted on Friday, August 12, 2011 at 07:35 AM
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ESPN commentator Alex Dimond has stated that Rory McIlroy needs to fire his caddy JP Fitzgerald if he is to “save himself from himself” after he hurt his hand in yesterday’s first round of the PGA championship, the year’s final major.
McIlroy hurt his hand trying an impossible shot, to move the ball away from tree roots on the third hole. He needed on course treatment before continuing and may be forced to withdraw. First to criticize McIlroy was commentator Jay Townsend who clashed with McIlroy after the British Open.
"I think Rory might have hurt himself by hitting a tree root, smart play??? I'll let you all decide," was the mocking tweet Townsend sent out.
Dimond says Fitzgerald was at fault for allowing McIlroy to hit the shot. “McIlroy may have wanted to hit the shot he was presented with on the third hole - the punishment of having to chip out always seems more severe to the younger player - but JP should have seen the bigger picture” Dimond wrote.
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Dimond quoted fellow pro Luke Donald saying he “felt sick” watching McIlroy try the shot while commentator Paul Azinger warned that such injuries could be "career-threatening".
Dimond says “Considering all that, Fitzgerald should have ensured the safety-first approach was the one that was taken.
“Instead, he kept quiet - or at the least did not make his voice prominently heard - and allowed McIlroy to do the sort of damage that will almost certainly cost him his shot at this championship, and could come back to haunt him at a few more before he is fully healed.
“McIlroy keeps defending his current caddie, but. ..twice in a year, his decision-making in majors has been shown to be woefully misguided. Fitzgerald has been fortunate enough to be there for one major win, but that should be it.
“It might not be this week, or even this year, but McIlroy needs to change his caddie. If his on-course judgment can't always be trusted - and it certainly seems it can't - then he needs to have another one on hand as and when it is required.
“Otherwise he's just hurting himself. Literally and figuratively.”
6 comments
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nicgearailt | Aug 14, 2011, 11:40 AM EDT
I understand HIS caddy did not agree with Rory's decision to take a whack at the ball ,as he did...should have listened to P.J.
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pilib04 | Aug 12, 2011, 02:52 PM EDT
Rory is 22 and at that age, a young man still feels he is invincible or at the very least able to chip out of root base!
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veryluckyone | Aug 12, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT
The golfer doesn't need a new caddy; he needs better judgement. I don't know how old he is, but he sounds like a teenager who thinks he's invincible. With maturity, he will know that injuries can take a career down because he is more able to see the big picture.
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cillowen | Aug 12, 2011, 01:35 PM EDT
rory - things happen to that chap like none other.
when the arm was being examined he sounded like
the kid that would attempt things - somewhat akin to
what i had done, barely able to swim, at 11, when challenged by peers to swim across an outflowing river to the sea, smart enough thinking though to have gone with the flow, diagonally across.
Rory's Stan Laural gait and seemingly uncaring ways
serves him well until those short distance nigh makeable puts - he needs to steel himself when such
situations arize. Michelson seems to have a similiar problem with the short ones. Rory's caddy didn't seem to step in and advise his Boss but then again he may have, could be fearing the consequence, seen to being too bold.
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muirisobric | Aug 12, 2011, 10:51 AM EDT
The same t'ing happened to me on a building site in London in 1964. I was weilding a pickaxe in a clay situation and hit a rock and the shock went right to my toes. I feel for ú Rory. I feel for ú a stór.
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