The loyalty seemed justified two months later when McIlroy won the US Open. “He has taken me from 200 in the world to major champion,” he said afterwards and not long before becoming No1 in the world. Phil Mickelson parted company with his caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay in June after an association that lasted 25 years and realised five major championships. The left-hander’s brother Tim took the job and unusually they missed the halfway cut at Birkdale. Fitzgerald, who Forbes magazine reports to have earned $1.65m alone in the 12 months until June, has also caddied for Paul McGinley, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els.

Source: The Guardian July 31, 2017 09:27 UTC