Harry Diamond, Rory McIlroy’s caddie and lifelong friend, gave a rare interview little more than 24 hours before his boss’ opening round of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush

Harry Diamond is not one for giving too many interviews, but he spoke ahead of The Open Championship(Image: Oisin Keniry/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

Rory McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond, never likes being in the limelight, but he gave an interview ahead of The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.

The content of his chat with The Open’s ‘Live From The Range’ coverage was hardly revealing, but the fact that he did an interview at all speaks volumes about Team McIlroy’s mood heading into an Open on home soil in Northern Ireland.

While his boss was hitting shots on the range, Diamond fielded questions on the makeup of McIlroy’s bag this week and any modifications to his clubs, adding that they will play Portrush’s back nine on Wednesday before “taking it easy” until Thursday’s 3:10 p.m. tee time (10:10 a.m. ET).

Diamond added: “[Rory is] in great form. Hitting it well, we just need to get off to a good start tomorrow,” seemingly making a reference to the world No. 2’s horror eight-over-par opening round at Portrush six years ago that led to him missing the cut.

Diamond gave away no secrets from the McIlroy camp ahead of the tournament, but the fact he was willing to do an interview at all speaks to the relaxed mood that the five-time major champion has exuded from the moment he arrived at Royal Portrush on Monday.

The 36-year-old appeared calm and content in his press conference on Monday, and during a practice round on Tuesday, he looked nothing like a man carrying a weight of expectation on his shoulders – although some professional autograph hunters felt his wrath when McIlroy grew tired of their antics.

McIlroy and Diamond are plotting a path to glory on home soil(Image: Alex Pantling/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

It is a far cry from McIlroy’s experience of Portrush six years ago when he, by his own admission, was unprepared for the experience of being the hometown hero in a major championship.

This year, he has appeared determined without being overly intense, and after a second-place finish at last week’s Scottish Open, he appears primed to contend for a second Claret Jug triumph.

“It means an awful lot [to be back home]. It’s weird, it doesn’t feel like six years have passed since 2019. I think it’s amazing that Portrush has this opportunity so soon after the last Open to host again,” McIlroy said in his press conference.