Rory McIlroy explains Ryder Cup row with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie،
Rory McIlroy addressed his violent Ryder Cup tantrum with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava, suggesting Tiger Woods tried to play peacemaker following the argument.
In an interview with the Irish Independent, McIlroy, 34, explained the background to the drama.
“Here’s what made me angry,” McIlroy said. “My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don’t have much in common and see the world very differently.
“But when I saw he was getting stuck on the 17th and 18th greens, I tried to calm the crowd down for him. And I don’t think Fitz [Matt Fitzpatrick, McIlroy’s partner] and I had the same opportunity to try and make those putts to cut the match in half. I shook Joe’s hand and Patrick’s. Those three putts he made on 16, 17 and 18 were fantastic, and under that pressure, giving your team a glimmer of hope going into Sunday, those were big balls. So all respect for him.
“There was a bit of argy-bargy at the bottom of the 18th green with Fred Couples and Thomas Bjorn — and that’s good — but as I go back to the locker room I feel this red mist coming over me.” No ! It wasn’t good.”
McIlroy told the Irish Independent that he met LaCava face to face the evening after Europe’s victory – something he had previously denied – although he said he thought the cadet’s personality had changed.
“LaCava was a nice guy when he was a cadet for Tiger [Woods] and now he’s taking care of this asshole. [Cantlay]. He became a…,” McIlroy said.
The Northern Irishman said Woods tried to call him after the incident.
“There were also three text messages and two missed calls from Tiger, because they are [Woods and LaCava] obviously still close,” McIlroy said.
“I sent him a quick message: ‘Everything will be fine, long day, I just want to go to bed.'”
McIlroy later expressed regret for his shouting match with Justin Thomas’ caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, in Marco Simone’s parking lot, footage of which was widely shared on social media.
“He comes to try to defuse the situation but he’s wearing an American top, and I know he’s friends with Joe, and I just tripped,” McIlroy said.
“Total rage. I felt bad afterwards because Bones’ wife was standing next to him and I used a lot of bad words. So not my best moment. Then Shane [Lowry] put me in the car.
McIlroy’s fifth Race to Dubai title was confirmed by Max Homa’s victory at the Nedbank Golf Challenge in South Africa, which saw him overtaken in the rankings. He will collect the trophy at the end of this weekend’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai.
