Ryder Cup row left Rory McIlroy experiencing anger he’d never felt in ‘disgraceful’ scenes
Rory McIlroy has admitted he was the ‘angriest he’s ever been’ on a golf course following his confrontation with caddie Joe LaCava on Saturday after Europe regained the Ryder Cup. Every Ryder Cup throws up a contentious moment with players fully embracing the team atmosphere with tensions at an all-time high.
Those tensions all boiled over in spectacular fashion in Saturday’s final fourball match as McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick battled to save a half against Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark. The Americans erupted into cheer when Cantlay holed a long putt on the 18th with the whole team waving their hats ironically due to the European jeers throughout the day.
LaCava also joined in the celebrations on the green while McIlroy was still lining up his putt to try and save a half. It led to an angry confrontation between the two, with McIlroy’s fury failing to subside when he got in his car to leave the course.
The Northern Irishman ended up using that as fuel as he helped Europe regain the Ryder Cup following their humiliating defeat two years ago in Whistling Straits. McIlroy could smile about the incident with LaCava afterward, but he’s revealed just how angry the situation made him.
