Rory McIlroy has perfect dig after Hank Haney criticizes caddie

Rory McIlroy made his first public remarks this week since his bitter loss at the US Open last month. He was asked about the washed-up golf coach Hank Haney who recently criticized Rory's caddie Harry Diamond. McIlroy did not mince words.

Rory McIlroy has the perfect dig after Hank Haney criticizes his caddie

Both Haney and commentator Smylie Kaufman were critical of Diamond because they believe he should step in more and call Rory off when he thinks he is wrong. Kaufman in particular called out a situation late in the US Open when he believes Rory had the wrong club and Diamond should have recognized that and called him off.

Criticism of caddies is a weird thing. Caddies are obviously an important part of any player's success, but how much credit or blame they deserve is questionable. The players are the ones that hit the shots, and there is no quicker way a player can lose fans and invite criticism than if they are openly critical of their caddie.

So it is odd that Diamond has received this much criticism. Rarely is there a chorus of commentators coming after a caddie like this; Rory feels the same way.

When asked about this "controversy," Rory had a perfect response. He said, "Hank Haney has never been in that position," which is the perfect way to negate Haney's criticism. He has never been in the heat of battle at a major and has proven himself to be a fool with past criticism of Rory.

Rory also questioned why people are critical of Diamond when he struggles or comes up short but are not complimentary when he wins. It is a fair point especially since public criticism of caddies is so rare.

Perhaps the fact that Rory has come so close in major championships and still has not won one in 10 years has caused people to just grasp at straws to explain why he cannot get over the hump. The true explanation is that golf is a hard game and winning major championships is really difficult. If Rory made those two putts we are not talking about Harry Diamond right now and Hank Haney would have to be fabricating a controversy about some other non-story.

Rory has a chance to shut everyone up next week at The Open Championship.