While Patrick Cantlay was relying on a pick to make Keegan Bradley’s Ryder Cup team, there was plenty of intrigue surrounding the 33-year-old heading to Bethpage Black.
Patrick Cantlay had been a key protagonist during the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone. Reports emerged during the event claiming that Cantlay was causing a split in the camp over frustrations at not being paid to take part. With that, he had apparently refused to wear a Team USA cap, according to Sky Sports.
Cantlay insisted that they simply could not find a cap that fit. Nevertheless, he became the pantomime villain in the eyes of the European fans.
It did not help his cause when it was announced ahead of the 2025 Ryder Cup that the American players involved would receive $500,000 – with $200,000 as a stipend for players to do as they wish. The rest would go straight to charity. Most of the team did confirm that all of their earnings would go to good causes.
How Patrick Cantlay really behaved in the team room during the 2025 Ryder Cup
Cantlay was told he owed an apology to the journalist who broke the initial story. Meanwhile, it was no surprise to see the 2021 Tour Championship winner sporting a cap in the build-up to this year’s event in New York.
Despite the controversy, Keegan Bradley had no qualms about putting his full faith in Cantlay. He ended up joining Scottie Scheffler and Bryson DeChambeau in playing all five sessions at Bethpage.
It obviously proved to be a disappointing week for Team USA. But speaking in an interview with Monday Q Info, former PGA Tour player Jamie Lovemark, who served as an assistant to vice-captain Brandt Snedeker last month, insisted that he was so impressed by Cantlay’s attitude.
“I was with Sneds, and mostly with Patrick Cantlay the entire week. And Pat, I can’t describe to you what a warrior Patrick is,” he said.
“He played five matches, no complaining. He’s tired, it’s brutal out there, the team’s doing bad, but he was like, ‘whatever it takes to win, I’ll play with whoever, whatever ball to play with’. As part of the team I guess, I was just so proud of him for being so tough and being such a great team member. Whatever it takes, doesn’t matter, I’ll play with anybody, any time. That was cool to see.”
The mood in the US team room after their loss at Bethpage
It proved to be a strange Ryder Cup, with Europe completely outplaying Team USA over the first two days. However, Bradley’s side very nearly produced one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time.
As it turns out, Cantlay was the only American player to lose during the Sunday singles.
It must have been hugely disappointing for Bradley’s men to become the first home team to lose the Ryder Cup since 2012.
Nevertheless, when asked about the atmosphere in the team room on Sunday night, Lovemark suggested that it was not all doom and gloom.
“As you can imagine, mixed emotions. Everyone was proud of how hard they fought, they came up just short. It was tough. Everyone was proud of themselves, the way they fought,” he said.
“It was a really tall task to come back from that deficit. They were happy, they were positive. Keegan gave a great speech at the end. He thanked everybody and he was so great all week. It was inspiring, motivational. He was all hands on deck for everyone.”
Team USA certainly gave their fans something to cheer with their fightback on Sunday.
However, those same supporters will not want the PGA of America to lose sight of the fact that Europe were able to win one match on Sunday and leave with the Ryder Cup.
Otherwise, further disappointment surely looms at Adare Manor.
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