Rory McIlroy informed of 'huge, huge mistake' as pressure mounts to sack key ally

Former PGA Tour pro Smylie Kaufman believes an earlier mistake by Rory McIlroy's caddie, Harry Diamond, was just as damaging as his late collapse at the US Open. McIlroy is preparing to return to action at the Scottish Open next week, but he will undoubtedly still be reeling from his nightmare at Pinehurst No. 2.

The 35-year-old was closing in on ending a decade-long wait for a fifth major before he missed two late short-range putts - from 2ft 6in on his 70th hole and 3ft 9in on his 72nd.

It caused him to fall short by one shot, handing Bryson DeChambeau the US Open title and starting an ongoing inquest into what went wrong.

As McIlroy gears up to defend his Scottish Open title at the Renaissance Club before competing at the Open at Royal Troon, Kaufman has reflected on his disastrous last outing.

Instead of aiming the focus on his missed putts, the NBC analyst, instead, noted the Northern Irishman's dropped shot on the par-3 15th hole as another pivotal reason for his loss.

McIlroy went long, hitting the difficult chip shot to around 30ft before missing his putt, sparking his costly late downfall.

Diamond has been accused of allowing him to use the wrong club, adding to the recent criticism of the caddie's ability to get McIlroy over the line, including from DP World Tour star Eddie Pepperell.

Kaufman told GOLF's Subpar podcast: "I felt like [caddie] Harry Diamond really should have stepped in on the 15th hole.

"He did not have the right club in his hands. And I felt like Rory could have taken control of the championship on 15 if he just hit it in the middle of the green.

"And he hit a good shot. But it just was the wrong club. And never, never was a 7-iron for Rory, especially with a right flag.

"If the wind was down off the right, it's not exactly a flag and a wind condition and the heat to be able to land it in a hula hoop, where you got to hit this kind of soft, spinny, fade 7-iron.

"It was an 8-iron all day. Hit it in the middle of the green. I would say that was a huge, huge mistake. I don't really ever see Harry stepping in a ton.

"Rory always, if he has a question, he'll ask, but for the most part, Rory kind of goes and does his thing, and he's got a lot of feel.

"In my head, as a player, when you execute a shot exactly how you're supposed to, and it ends up in a terrible spot, you have to look at, all right, what happened here. Because that's what happened at the 15th hole."

McIlroy met Diamond at Holywood Golf Club in his hometown and named him his new caddie in 2017, replacing J.P. Fitzgerald.

Diamond's predecessor was alongside McIlroy for all four of his majors before the pair split.