Rory McIlroy and Hank Haney had a public falling out over the former’s criticism of his caddie Harry Diamond, but the ex-Tiger Woods coach has since backtracked

Hank Haney worked with Tiger Woods (Image: Getty Images)

Tiger Woods’ ex-coach Hank Haney has taken a subtle jab at Rory McIlroy amid their caddie controversy. The 69-year-old coach was one of the voices who criticized McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, for his part in McIlroy’s U.S. Open meltdown last June.

Critics argued that Diamond’s club choice on the final round’s 15th hole was a misstep, which led to McIlroy bogeying three of the last four holes and Bryson DeChambeau snatching a one-shot victory. McIlroy later brushed off the idea that Diamond was at fault.

Fast forward nearly five months, and Haney, who coached Woods from 2004 to 2010, seems to have stoked the embers of their dispute. He hopped onto X to comment on a video about McIlroy’s evolving swing, stating: “On the right track but what do I know.”

This appears to be a tongue-in-cheek retort to McIlroy dismissing his earlier remarks about Diamond before The Open in July. McIlroy had contended that Haney wasn’t qualified to comment, unlike NBC Sports analyst Smylie Kaufman, who also criticized his caddie. “Hank Haney has never been in that position,” McIlroy stated at Royal Troon. “Smylie has been in that position once, and I love Smylie, and he was out there with us on 18.

Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods ( Image: Getty Images)

“But just because Harry is not as vocal or loud with his words as other caddies, it doesn’t mean that he doesn’t say anything and that he doesn’t do anything. I just wish that, you know, these guys that criticise when things don’t go my way, they never say anything good when things do go my way.”

Haney had suggested that a more seasoned caddie than Diamond, who has been McIlroy’s close friend and caddie since 2017, might have prevented some of the golfer’s errors. However, Haney has since softened his stance.

In response to a fan in August, Haney clarified his views, stating on X, “No, I think his caddie is great for him,” and acknowledged, “I never said he wasn’t great for Rory, I said they made a mistake on #15 at the US Open. I actually am actually a big fan of friend caddies, anyone can make a mistake.”