Ryder Cup: Rory McIlroy DENIES meeting Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava to clear the air following cap-gate spat
- LaCava took off his cap and waved it in the air when Cantlay made a decisive putt
- McIlroy appeared fuming with his antics and he was later seen losing his cool
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Rory McIlroy has denied reports claiming he met up with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava to clear the air after their heated spat at the Ryder Cup on Saturday.
It was reported earlier on Sunday that LaCava had reached out to McIlroy and the European team to apologize ahead of the final day at the Ryder Cup.
The 68-year-old caddie took off his cap and waved it in the air when Cantlay made a decisive putt on 18 in the crucial last four-ball match, which seemingly irked McIlroy.
Yet when quizzed on rumors of a clear-the-air meeting with LaCava, the Northern Irishman said: ‘I haven’t met Joe.’
When asked to confirm no meeting had taken place, he repeated: ‘I haven’t met Joe.’
Rory McIlroy has denied reports claiming he met up with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava
McIlroy had argued with LaCava on Saturday after he took off his cap and waved it to celebrate
He was then seen launching into a livid rant at someone while leaving Marco Simone Saturday
After losing his cool on Saturday, McIlroy held his nerve to beat USA’s Sam Burns 3&1 in his singles match on Sunday.
Discussing how determined he was to win a point for Europe following Saturday’s drama, he said: ‘I was focused, I was very focused.
‘I let it fuel me. I didn’t let it take away from what’s been a fantastic week and I used that little incident to my advantage.
‘It was a bit of a deflating finish last night but I think what transpired on that last green, it all gave us a fire in our bellies to go out and try and get the job done today.’
After Saturday’s fourballs, McIlroy had to be bundled into a car as tensions spilled following LaCava’s antics.
He could be heard shouting ‘This can’t happen, this can’t happen – it’s a f*****g disgrace,’ with a security guard forced to step in before teammate Shane Lowry guided him to a waiting BMW 4×4.
The row with Cantlay and his caddie started when European fans taunted the Californian over his decision not to wear a cap, which reports initially claimed was in protest over players not being paid to compete at the Ryder Cup – something he later denied.
McIlroy’s car park outburst comes after a tense exchange with LaCava on the final hole
Members of Team Europe took exception to LaCava’s celebrations and lack of etiquette
When Cantlay then sunk a 30-footer to leave USA on the brink of winning the match, he responded by mimicking taking off a hat while LaCava joyously waved his in McIlroy’s line of sight.
McIlroy was seen making his frustrations known to LaCava on the course before television cameras later captured him losing his temper in the car park.
Europe captain Luke Donald said on Saturday: ‘I’ll talk with Rory when I get back. I didn’t see the incident (on the car park). I saw the one on 18. I think we always — as I said in my speech, we always try and play with passion, play with energy, but play with respect. That will certainly be my message to the players.’
The Englishman confirmed the sportsmanship row had sparked the heated scenes.
‘Rory politely asked Joe to move aside,’ Donald said. ‘He was in his line. He stood there and didn’t move for a while and continued to wave his hat…So I think Rory was upset about that.’
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