Tiger Woods hasn’t been part of an American team for the Ryder Cup in several years but the veteran made his presence known after an incident involving Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy exchanging words with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava(Image: PA)
The 2023 Ryder Cup was a memorable one for Team Europe, but it wasn’t without its tension between players and caddies on both sides of the Europe-USA divide. Things came to a head when Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava didn’t see eye to eye, and the situation got so extreme that Tiger Woods felt compelled to step in.
Woods, the former world No.1, spent a long period working with LaCava. By 2023, though, it was Cantlay who had his fellow American in his corner as the Ryder Cup took place in Rome, Italy.
On the middle day of the 2023 competition, McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick found themselves up against Cantlay and Wyndham Clark. Cantlay and LaCava celebrated wildly after the American sunk a 43-foot putt on 18, and there was a bit of an altercation after – in McIlroy’s mind – the respect the Europeans showed for their opponents didn’t go both ways.
It largely stemmed from LaCava’s celebrations continuing while McIlroy tried and failed to hole a putt of his own to halve the whole. The Northern Irishman appeared calm as he and the American team attempted to clear the air, but he was later seen complaining of a “f***ing disgrace” to another caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay.
“So Patrick holes the putt and Joe’s celebrating, and I think he lost control of where he was for a moment — or where he was in relation to my ball — but I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt,” McIlroy told The Irish Independent. “I’m like, ‘Right, I need to concentrate on this.’
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“I read my putt from behind the ball, then I go behind the hole, and as I’m walking back down the low side of my putt Joe is right in my way. I say, ‘Joe can you move please?’ And he’s been waving his hat, ‘We can celebrate too,’ he says. I said, ‘I don’t give a f**k if you celebrate, just do it over there.’”
McIlroy described his own relationship with Cantlay as “average at best”, suggesting LaCava had changed since starting to work with the Californian. He maintained it was a different story when he was part of Woods’ team, and the former Ryder Cup star clearly still had some sway.
Joe LaCava caddying for Tiger Woods(Image: AP)
“I went back to my room and there was a text from Joe LaCava: ‘Hey Rory, would love to meet up in the morning to clear the air.’ But I was tired and didn’t get back to him,” McIlroy added.
“There was also three texts and two missed calls from Tiger, because they’re obviously still close. I sent him a quick message: ‘It will be fine … long day … just want to go to bed.’”
McIlroy recalled that the tense moment after the 18th hole appeared to galvanise the European team. Sunday brought the singles matches, with Europe ahead by five going into the final day’s play.
McIlroy went on to win his Sunday singles match against Sam Burns(Image: AP)
When the singles match-ups were drawn, McIlroy and Cantlay managed to avoid each other, and both responded to the Saturday drama by getting their own job done. Cantlay secured a 2&1 victory over Justin Rose, bringing the USA back within five after Viktor Hovland had extended Europe’s lead, before McIlroy won 3&1 against Sam Burns.
When Tyrell Hatton got the better of Brian Harman, victory was within Europe’s grasp. Tommy Fleetwood eventually sealed the deal after Team USA threatened a dramatic comeback, and Europe could finally celebrate.
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