Caddy Joe LaCava has a fiery moment with European team Rory McIlroy on the 18th green at the Ryder Cup

Caddy Joe LaCava has a fiery moment with European team Rory McIlroy on the 18th green at the Ryder Cup

LaCava gave way to Patrick Cantlay, criticized by the pro-European public throughout the afternoon. Rory McIlroy gets angry at LaCava for his antics.

When Patrick Cantlay holed a 25-foot putt for his third four-putt for the United States Ryder Cup team on Saturday – a much-needed boost amid European dominance – the scene was on the 18th green. has heated up.

With the “HatGate” Cantlay controversy unconfirmed, it’s only natural to celebrate the former FedEx Cup champion’s clutch shot selection. His American teammates took off their hats and waved to European fans in response to their persistent trolling. Word spread on social media that Cantlay did not wear an American hat this week out of frustration with the lack of compensation for Ryder Cup players. He denied the rumours, saying that the hats given to the team “did not suit him”.

Cantlay’s caddy, Joe LaCava, who previously worked for Tiger Woods, joined the hat-inspired celebration. But the European team felt LaCava waved his hat a bit too early.

“Rory McIlroy wasn’t happy with him waving his hat before he putt there, and then when he turned around, Shane Lowry gave Joe a quick peck on the lips and he immediately responded,” Steve NBC’s Sands said. This angle shows LaCava very close to McIlroy on the green.

On-course commentator and former Ryder Cup caddy John Wood spoke with LaCava and provided some context.

“He said, ‘You know what, I was partying, I threw my hat in the air, I drew a crowd.’ He turned around, he didn’t know Rory was going back to his prom, he was bothering him a bit. Rory was okay with that, he laughed, but then Shane started walking onto the grass and told Joe to “get out of the way”. Joe said: “We’re about to get our asses kicked, I’m going to celebrate a little now.” And then Justin Rose joined. It’s just been a little hectic,” Wood said. It appeared McIlroy was still upset about the situation long later, as Golf Channel cameras captured him in a heated exchange with Jim “Bones” Mackay and others in the parking lot. McIlroy’s representative confirmed to Golf Channel that the incident outside Marco Simone’s clubhouse was not isolated but was related to the end of the match and LaCava’s early celebration.

When asked about the hat-inspired scene on the 18th, US captain Zach Johnson said, “A celebration is a celebration. With a big putt like that on 18 at the Ryder Cup, I think you have every right to celebrate with your team and that’s exactly what I saw.

Luke Donald, the European captain, briefly addressed the situation in his post-tour press conference.

“Joe was waving his hat and Rory asked him to get out of his line and stop,” Donald said. “And Joe hasn’t moved in a while and it’s bothering him.”