Updated at 12.55pm

JP FITZGERALD WILL no longer carry Rory McIlroy’s bag as the former world number one has decided to end their partnership according to a report from the Reuters news agency this morning.

Fitzgerald has been the Northern Irishman’s caddie for nine years and a spokesperson for McIlroy told The42 the golfer will hold a press conference to address the situation on Wednesday.

The decision to end the relationship comes just over a week after McIlroy thanked Fitzgerald for helping kick-start his Open Championship challenge when the man known to all as JP had some stern words after a bogey-riddled start.

“JP, he reminded me who I was, basically. He said, ‘You’re Rory McIlroy, what the fuck are you doing?’ I said, ‘Yeah’. At that point I mumbled and said, ‘Whatever.’

But it did, it helped. It definitely helped. It kept me positive. So he did a great job.”

There was no immediate reply to a request for comment from McIlroy’s management this morning.

Since hiring Fitzgerald in 2008, McIlory has won four Major titles and shot to number one in the world rankings.

This morning’s news comes just weeks after Phil Mickelson ended his relationship with caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after 25 years.

Originally published at 8.30am.

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