• European Tour

McIlroy to stick with under-fire caddie Fitzgerald

ESPN staff
July 29, 2011
Rory McIlroy: 'JP is the best man I can have on the bag' © Getty Images
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US Open winner Rory McIlroy has announced he will stick with caddie JP Fitzgerald, despite recent criticism of Fitzgerald's work on the bag.

McIlroy reacted angrily on Thursday to comments from Jay Townsend, the former European Tour player, that suggested his course management was not good enough at the Irish Open. He was criticised for his shot selection at the 18th during the first round, where he recorded a double-bogey after finding the sand and then water.

Fitzgerald has also come under fire for his work during the final 18 holes at The Masters, when McIlroy blew a four-shot lead and looked all at sea across the final few holes.

But the 22-year-old Ulsterman has not even considered following Tiger Woods' lead by changing his caddie.

"I don't really have any respect for the man [Townsend]," McIlroy said. "Because of how long it has been going on (he claims nearly three years), that's why I said something. I have to stand up for JP because he's the best man that I think I can have on my bag. He's taken me from 200th in the world to major champion and now fourth in the world."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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