Matthew Fitzpatrick and Rory McIlroy were embroiled in huge controversy during the 2023 Ryder Cup when Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, caused somewhat of a ruckus on the 18th green on day two in Rome.
Fitzpatrick and Cantlay had front row seats when McIlroy went head-to-head with LaCava on the final green of their Ryder Cup fourball match.
Cantlay’s caddie had overstepped the mark at the Ryder Cup in Rome, and he apologised before the Sunday singles began.
McIlroy actually avoided playing Cantlay in the Ryder Cup singles, switching from going out third, as he usually does, to fourth.
Despite the fact that the hatchet has been buried, there will undoubtedly still be some ill-feeling at Bethpage Black next week.
For the fans, it would be great to see McIlroy come face-to-face with Cantlay in New York. This time, the American will have the home crowd on his side.
Cantlay endured plenty of ‘friendly’ banter in Rome two years ago and given his stoic persona, Fitzpatrick’s admission about the 33-year-old really was very interesting.
Matthew Fitzpatrick comments on Patrick Cantlay’s behaviour at the 2023 Ryder Cup
Cantlay played the role of the villain in Italy in 2023.
That is a role that the American is used to playing, but the 33-year-old received extra attention in Rome due to the fact that he was not wearing a cap in protest to not being paid to play at the Ryder Cup.
As a result, the European fans at Marco Simone mocked the American all week long by waving their caps in his direction.
When speaking to British publication The Times, Fitzpatrick shared what he thought of Cantlay’s reaction to the chants from the European fans.
He said: “Because I love football (soccer) so much, I know what football fans are like, particularly in Europe. They are the most creative with chants. The US has zero chants, other than ‘USA, USA’. I think of all the things that were sung over the course that week, it was hilarious. I think Patrick took it very well, I really do. So, pardon the pun, hats off to him for that,” says Fitzpatrick, who rolls his eyes when reminded of Cantlay’s insistence that he did not know what the chants were about.“
Fair play to Cantlay for taking the banter in good spirits. It’s actually fair to say that the eight-time PGA Tour winner gets a bad rap a lot of the time.
As Fitzpatrick said, the American deserves huge praise for the way he handled the treatment he received, and now it will be the Englishmen’s turn to face a hostile crowd next week.
Matthew Fitzpatrick comments on Rory McIlroy vs Joe LaCava spat
Fitzpatrick couldn’t quite believe what he was seeing in Rome two years ago.
The Englishman explained how he felt when he saw LaCava and McIlroy going at it on the 18th green at Marco Simone.
He said: “The whole situation was very bizarre. Looking back, I wish I’d taken a little bit more time on the putt and kind of reset myself after the whole s**t show that it was. It was obviously such a bizarre way to finish the match and it left a sour taste in our mouths really,” Fitzpatrick says.
“I think it was a bit odd that Joe took it so personally because it wasn’t even aimed at him. I think it was all in good fun. I’m all for that sort of stuff. If you’re taking it, then you’re allowed to give it back, that’s the way it is.”
There will undoubtedly be plenty of controversy next week at Bethpage.
However, whether it’s Fitzpatrick, Cantlay or someone else who is involved in the Ryder Cup shenanigans remains to be seen.
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