After the heated 2023 Ryder Cup incidents with Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, Joe LaCava, caddie for Patrick Cantlay, opens up about his desire to steer clear of controversy at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black. In this video, we break down the key moments from Rome, including the infamous cap-waving celebration and the verbal clashes. LaCava also discusses the differences between Team USA captains Keegan Bradley and Zach Johnson, and how he’s handling fan interactions this time around. Will Team USA bounce back in 2025? Find out what LaCava thinks and get insights into the mindset of one of golf’s most experienced caddies.
Keywords: Ryder Cup, Joe LaCava, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay, Keegan Bradley, Zach Johnson, Bethpage Black, Golf Controversy, Team USA, European Team, Caddie Insights
The 2023 Rder Cup in Rome was a powder keg of emotions and Joe Lava found himself at the center of the explosion. But here’s where it gets controversial. Was he the spark or just a bystander caught in the crossfire? Now, as the 2025 Ryder Cup tease off at Beth Paige Black, Lava is determined to keep the focus on the golf, not the drama. Farmingdale, New York. Joe Lava has relived the 2023 Ryder Cup highlights or low lightss depending on your perspective countless times. The footage of Patrick Can’s caddy clashing with fans, Rory Mroy on the green and Shane Lowry off it has been replayed adnauseium. Of course, they replay those moments because controversy sells, Lava told the Athletic during Wednesday’s practice round. But I’m not here to stir the pot this week. Two years ago, Lava, once Tiger Woods trusted Caddy, became a central figure in the RDER Cup’s fiery narrative. After Kantlay faced a day of taunts from the Marco Simone crowd, allegedly for not wearing his US team hat, a claim he’s repeatedly denied, Lava’s actions following Kentlay’s clutch 43 ft putt on the 18th green ignited a firestorm, leading a group of Americans in a capwaving celebration. Lava inadvertently crossed paths with Mroy, who felt the Cadd’s exuberance was excessive and intrusive. What followed was a heated exchange of words that spilled off the course and into the parking lot, culminating in Mroyy’s scathing remarks about Lava’s character, and this is the part most people miss. Despite the public feud, Lava insists there’s no lingering animosity. “We’ve never really had deep conversations,” he admitted. We exchange hellos, but that’s about it. It’s not like we’re avoiding each other. We just don’t cross paths often. As the 2025 Rder Cup unfolds, Lava is quick to highlight the shift in team dynamics under new captain Keegan Bradley. Keegan brings a fiery energy that’s infectious, he explained. Zack Johnson was a great leader, but his laid-back approach maybe let the guys operate too independently. Keegan’s intensity has really rallied the team. Off the course, Lava’s interactions with fans at Beth Page have been surprisingly light-hearted. A diehard Giants fan, he’s been fielding more questions about Jackson Dart and the New York Rangers than his 2023 shouting matches. It’s refreshing, he laughed. People here are passionate about their sports, but they’re not holding grudges. When asked about the Marco Simone crowd, which NBC analyst Jim Bones Makai described as brutal, Lava offered a nuanced take. “I didn’t think it was that bad,” he said. Bones was closer to the crowd, so maybe he heard more, but that’s the nature of the Rder Cup. Fans cheer for their team. You can’t take it personally. Here’s the million-dollar question. Can Lava truly avoid controversy this week, or is the Ryder Cup stage too combustible for even the most level-headed Caddy? And more importantly, should fans be allowed to cross the line from passionate support to personal attacks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. This is one debate that’s far from
