Rory McIlroy's former manager criticises Tommy Fleetwood's caddie on eve of The Open

Rory McIlroy's former manager Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler says Tommy Fleetwood's caddie Ian Finnis has escaped scrutiny. 

Fleetwood closed in on his first victory in America at last month's Travelers Championship in Connecticut. 

The Englishman held a comfortable three-shot lead after 54 holes but was chased down by US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. 

Making matters worse for Fleetwood, he three-putted on the 72nd hole for bogey when it looked more than likely he would have to face Bradley in a playoff. 

A crestfallen Fleetwood took the defeat on the chin, admitting to reporters what happened stirred a lot of anger. 

"I would love to go and sulk somewhere and maybe I will do," Fleetwood said in the immediate aftermath. 

"But there's just no point making it a negative for the future really, [I just have to] take the positives and move on."

Chandler, though, believes Fleetwood's long-time caddie Ian Finnis needs to take a hard look in the mirror. 

Fleetwood's devastating bogey at TPC River Highlands followed indecision over which club to hit as the wind picked up. 

In the end, Fleetwood opted to hit a 9-iron which ultimately settled on the front edge of the green. 

From there, his birdie putt lacked pace and he missed a par putt from six feet to extend the contest. 

"I like Tommy a lot," Chandler said after he was asked to assess Fleetwood's chances of winning next week's Open Championship at Royal Portrush. 

Fleetwood finished runner-up to Shane Lowry the last time the major was held in Northern Ireland in 2019. 

Finnis added: "He should have won at the Travelers, shouldn't he? I'm not throwing Ian Finnis under the bus, but nobody looked at the caddie at all when he didn't win that last one. 

"The caddie was half to blame. The caddie was involved in the decision-making. It was the wrong club at 18. 

"It's funny, people gun for certain people, don't they? Finnis has escaped it. You think of the stick Harry Diamond gets."

Chandler was referring to Rory McIlroy's best pal and caddie. 

Diamond copped his fair share of criticism over the past decade as McIlroy attempted to finally end his major drought. 

McIlroy was quick to send a message to Diamond's critics when he finally climbed his Everest and sealed the grand slam at the 2025 Masters in April. 

"Tyrrell Hatton is my pick to win"

Chandler said former Open winner Lowry has looked out of sorts for a while. 

"Shane has gone a bit like Tommy Fleetwood," he said. "He's struggling to actually get anything finished. 

"I don't think his game's quite as good as it was, maybe two or three years ago. He just looks out of sorts. He looks in bad form, doesn't he?

"He'll still play in the Ryder Cup. Team Europe picks itself, I think. You could probably name nine now. 

"Justin Rose will get in. He's worth it because he'll be great in the locker room. He's greats as partner for a young guy. 

"They won't miss him out. I don't think you're going to get many surprises off Luke Donald. You know how he thinks."

Chandler said he reckons England's Tyrrell Hatton will lift the Claret Jug next week. 

The fiery LIV Golf recruit played brilliantly at the US Open and finished in a tie for fourth with Cameron Young and Carlos Ortiz.

"Hatton to me is definitely on the line to win a major," Chandler said. "He should have won the US Open, and this will practically almost be more up his streak than that was.

"He controls his ball flight really well. You have to control your ball flight, and he controls it well. Hits it straight most of the time. He would be my number one UK bet."

Andrew Chandler was speaking to Betway.