It's the caddy's credo: Show up. Keep up. Shut up.

Except on Sunday, on the 72nd hole of the PGA Wells Fargo Championship in North Carolina, caddy Harry Diamond did not shut up.

His partner on the course, four-time major champion Rory McIlroy, was leading the event by a couple of strokes. He had hit his drive on the treacherous 18th hole at Quail Hollow, however, into big trouble and found a hazard on the final hole of the tournament.

McIlroy admitted later he had already been thinking about kissing his wife and eight-month old daughter, Poppy, while holding the winner's trophy on their first Mother's Day as a family. He stood over the ball in the rough, on a significant decline, and determined to give it a go.

After all, he was leading. His swing was working nicely after he'd determined to alter it a few months back. He'd managed 13 pars on this final round and four birdies. And he was two shots clear of the field. What could go wrong on this special day?

He didn't shut up

Diamond spoke up. 

McIlroy recounted: "I was ready to get in there and try to play that with a lob wedge. And he [Diamond] was like, 'Whoa… let's take a step back.'"

The two decided the better course was to concede a penalty stroke, and drop the ball outside the of the red line marking the penalty area, right at the point of entry.

"So he [Diamond] sort of calmed me down," McIlroy said. "And he said, 'Pal, let's just think about this a little bit.'"

From his new lie, McIlroy managed a pressure-packed 8-iron to the green. It was his most important shot of the day, he said later. 

McIlroy two-putted for bogey, and a one-stroke victory, his first win since 2019.

Childhood mates

Diamond is probably McIlroy's best friend. Their bond dates to their early days on the course at Holywood Golf Club near Belfast. Diamond was McIlroy's best man when he married Erica Stoll in 2018.

"I think this is Harry and my sixth win together. It's probably been our best one.

"Harry's been there every step of the way. The tough parts I've had to endure the last few months. It's nice to come through all that with him. And to get into the winner's circle again."