Rory McIlroy’s caddie is his closest companion; he even considers him a brother. And when two people are so perfectly in tune with one another, words are often unnecessary. That was precisely the case during McIlroy’s final round at the Masters on Sunday.

The 36-year-old secured yet another Green Jacket with a round of 1-under, finishing 12-under for the major and edging out nearest challenger Scottie Scheffler by a single shot. It was not without its anxious moments, with a double bogey on four and a dropped shot on six threatening to derail his challenge.

However, a crucial birdie on seven and another on eight steadied the ship. Further birdies on 12 and 13 followed, and that effectively wrapped up the victory for McIlroy.

Throughout every moment, caddie Harry Diamond was right there alongside him. The pair share a long history, and Diamond was present when McIlroy triumphed last year. When asked whether the two spoke much during the final round, McIlroy admitted they barely exchanged a word.

“It wasn’t really, there wasn’t much to say,” he said. “I think we were both just hoping that my ball wasn’t in a really bad spot or behind a tree. I was just hoping that I had a swing.

“No, it was pretty quiet out there. It was pretty tense. I was sort of talking about, okay, after the 6th hole, let’s try to get back to even-par for the day after nine.

“He was trying to encourage me, telling me there’s plenty of time left, just try to keep hitting fairways and greens.

“There wasn’t a ton of talk out there. I think we both knew what we needed to do. I just needed to step up and execute.”

McIlroy became visibly emotional when discussing Diamond following last year’s victory. The caddie has faced criticism in the past, with some questioning whether a close friend is the right choice for McIlroy. The last two years have emphatically answered that question.

“Yeah, I’ve known Harry since I was seven years old,” he said after last year’s win. “I met him on the putting green at Holywood Golf Club. We’ve had so many good times together. He’s been like a big brother to me the whole way through my life (tearing up).

“To be able to share this with him after all the close calls that we’ve had, all the crap that he’s had to take from people that don’t know anything about the game, yeah, this one is just as much his as it is mine.

“He’s a massive part of what I do, and I couldn’t think of anyone better to share it with than him.”