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Rory McIlroy (right) celebrates winning The Masters with caddie Harry Diamond after the playo-off hole at Augusta National Golf Club: Picture (Getty Images)

IT was in 2005 that a 16-year-old Rory McIlroy played in the Irish Open as an amateur, with his friend Harry Diamond as his caddy. The two have since been inseparable, sharing the highs and lows that come with life on the professional golf circuit. Two decades after McIlroy burst onto the scene, he completed a career Grand Slam by winning The Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on Monday and Diamond was still by his side. It was a fairytale moment for the lifelong friends.

“I have known Harry since I was seven years old, I met him on the putting green at Hollywood Golf Club. We have had so many good times together, he has been like a big brother to me, the whole way through my life. To be able to share this with him, after all the close calls that we have had, all the crap that he has had to take from people that don’t know anything about the game, this one is his just as much as it is mine. He is a massive part of what I do and I couldn’t think of anyone better to share it with than him,” an emotional McIlroy said.

After finally donning the green jacket, McIlroy shared what Diamond told him after he missed his putt on the 18th hole, helping him refocus for the play-off. “I have known Harry since I was seven years old, I met him on the putting green at Hollywood Golf Club. We have had so many good times together, he has been like a big brother to me, the whole way through my life. To be able to share this with him, after all the close calls that we have had, all the crap that he has had to take from people that don’t know anything about the game, this one is his just as much as it is mine. He is a massive part of what I do and I couldn’t think of anyone better to share it with than him,” an emotional McIlroy said.

The 35 year old Northern Ireland professional became the sixth golfer to win each of the four major championships alongside Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Only him and Woods have completed a career Grand Slam in the last 50 years. McIlroy (-11) ended his long wait for a Masters title with a birdie on the opening hole of a sudden death play-off to beat Justin Rose (-11), whom he was tied with after playing 72 holes.