golf
Ryder Cup fuel: cap trouble surrounding Cantlay and McIlroy
Patrick Cantlay denied a media report that he caused a split in the US team. photo
© Andrew Medichini/AP/dpa
The Ryder Cup is also a topic of conversation beyond the fairways and greens: it’s about caps, money, honor and two golf stars.
A few hours before the nerve-wracking Ryder Cup final of the best golfers from Europe and the USA in Rome, there is still a lot of fuel in both teams. The protagonists: US professional Patrick Cantlay, Northern Ireland star Rory McIlroy – and lots of caps.
Cantlay denied a media report that he had caused a split in the US team. The report claimed that Cantlay was upset that the players were chosen to play in the Ryder Cup didn’t get any money. For this reason, the 31-year-old is said to have not worn a US team cap in protest.
“That’s not the point,” Cantlay said at the press conference in Rome. “It’s all about Team USA and representing our country. That’s all I have to say.” US captain Zach Johnson also emphatically denied that there was an argument in the team room. “This is one of the closest teams I’ve ever been a part of.”
McIlroy with a temper tantrum
Cantlay further explained that the cap did not fit him properly. He also didn’t wear a cap at the Ryder Cup in Whistling Straits two years ago. By Saturday afternoon, European fans had waved their caps in Cantlay’s direction and chanted “Hats off to your bank account.” The fifth in the world rankings responded in his own way and sank the decisive putts on the last three holes alongside his playing partner Wyndham Clark to win against the duo Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
This defeat probably wore on McIlroy’s nerves afterwards. The world number two accused Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava of standing in his way before his decisive putt on the 18th green and waving a cap in his field of vision. This incident led to McIlroy’s outburst in the parking lot of the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. The angry Northern Irishman is said to have been taken away in a car by his teammate Shane Lowry.
Before the final twelve singles of the prestigious continental comparison, the hosts lead against the defending champions from the USA with 10.5: 5.5 points. The Europeans only need four points on the final day to win back the Ryder Cup trophy from the Americans.
Leaderboard from the 44th Ryder Cup