Rory McIlroy reveals exact moment he defied caddie Harry Diamond in Masters win

Rory McIlroy has opened up on a key disagreement with his caddie and close friend Harry Diamond during the final round of the 2025 Masters Tournament — a moment that proved pivotal in his historic victory.

McIlroy went on to defeat Justin Rose in a dramatic playoff at Augusta National Golf Club, sealing the career grand slam. But his path to the green jacket included a tense exchange on the seventh hole on Sunday.

Holding a three-shot lead, McIlroy’s tee shot veered left into the trees, leaving him with a decision to make — chip out safely or attempt an aggressive recovery through a narrow gap.

Diamond urged caution, but McIlroy had other ideas.

Speaking on Amazon's Rory McIlroy: The Masters Wait, he said: “Seven was a tee shot all week that I struggled with. When I was walking up to it, I'm just like, 'Please have something. Some sort of shot and some sort of gap.'”

“The one thing Harry and I always say to ourselves is, 'All I want is a backswing and a gap.' Harry was begging me, he was like, 'Just chip it out, we can make four [par] this way.'”

“I'm like, 'No, no, I've got a gap I can see a gap here.' He's like, 'What are you talking about? There's nothing there.' I'm like, 'No, no, I can get a 9-iron up, and I can do this.'”

McIlroy committed to the shot and executed it brilliantly. His approach threaded through the tall pines, landed on the green and very nearly went down for an eagle-two. He would miss the birdie attempt, but it would not derail his charge to the record books. 

Watch McIlroy's shot here: 

After failing to convert a five-foot par putt for victory in regulation on the par-4 18th, McIlroy regrouped in the playoff against Rose. This time, faced with a shorter birdie effort on the 18th, he made no mistake.

Reflecting on his historic moment, he added: “The only difference with the three-footer in the playoff rather than the five-footer in regulation is I was sure of the line in the playoff. I was a little bit indecisive with my line or my read in regulation. Again, one of the blessings, but also the curses, of going back to Augusta every year is you remember all of these putts.

“Whether it be your putts or other people's putts that you've seen on the coverage. I always remember everyone putting from right of that hole location on 18.

“If they miss it, they miss it high. That was in the back of my head, so I probably gave it a little less break than I maybe would have, and I should have went (sic) with my first instinct.”

The victory marked a fifth career major title for McIlroy, but a first for his caddie and best mate Diamond. 

JP Fitzgerald was the caddie for McIlroy's first four major victories. The pair worked together from 2008 until their split in August 2017.

While McIlroy's own career slam is in the books, McIlroy claims he would now love to complete a career slam for Diamond. 

For that to happen it will mean McIlroy needs to win the US PGA, US Open and The Open once again. 

McIlroy will this coming week attempt to become the first player to successfully defend The Masters since Tiger Woods in 2002. 

Only three players have successfully defended the Masters: Jack Nicklaus (1965 & 1966), Sir Nick Faldo (1989 & 1990), and Woods (2001 & 2002).