Rory McIlroy going at the Team USA caddies will be a moment that goes down in Ryder Cup folklore.
Relations between Team Europe and Team USA are not always pleasant, but two years ago in Rome there was a particularly edgy atmosphere.
Europe star McIlroy was at the centre of it all.
The first glimpses of things bubbling over was on the 18th hole during a dramatic finish on the second day of the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy was enraged by something said by Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava on the final green.
LaCava was busy celebrating Cantlay’s putt, giving it to the home crowd in Rome, and refused to get out of McIlroy’s way so he could take his effort.
There seemed to be a concerted effort to rile the now-five-time major champion, who added The Masters to his trophy cabinet since the last Ryder Cup.
He was seen exchanging furious words with Justin Thomas’ caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ MacKay in the Marco Simone car park.
McIlroy was then bundled into the back of a car by teammate and close friend Shane Lowry before things turned uglier.
There was also a third caddie that the Northern Irishman, allegedly, had issue with in Italy.
This separate incident was recalled by Fred Couples after the fact.
Speaking on Sirius XM’s PGA Tour show, the golf legend revealed Koepka’s Northern Irish caddie Ricky Elliott told him that McIlroy ‘went at him in the middle of the hotel foyer’.
Caddies were the big story at the 2023 Ryder CupGettyHe added: “He was yelling at Bones which is disrespectful with his wife standing a foot from him saying words that shouldn’t be said.
“Now, I’m on Rory’s side too — because I love Rory McIlroy to death — but when you’re incensed and you want to fight, you’re going to say things. Is that disrespectful?”
What started McIlroy and LaCava argument?
Patrick Cantlay was getting abuse from the European crowd all weekend, mostly because of his apparent refusal to wear a Team USA cap.
In response, his caddie LaCava took off his own cap and waved it at the crowd but broke a crucial golf etiquette rule in the process.
He refused to move out of the way of McIlroy’s putt, irking the Northern Irishman.
“I asked him [LaCava] what was said,” Couples added.
McIlroy quickly went viral as he argued with Thomas’ caddiePeacock“He said Rory looked at him and said, ‘Mooove’. And he made the ‘ooo’ last a little longer.
“And Joe replied, ‘Relax, Rory’.
“Then Joe turned to get out of the way. And Shane Lowry and [European assistant captain] Thomas Bjorn were screaming some things at him, which is fine.
“I don’t have any problem with Shane Lowry or Thomas Bjorn — they’re protecting the number one player on their team. But no one did anything wrong.
“[LaCava] didn’t bump into [McIlroy]. He didn’t stand over him. It wouldn’t be a 15-yard penalty in college football for taunting.
“He said he was 6 feet from him. Was Joe right? Probably not. [But] did anyone disrespect the European team?”
What happened next?
McIlroy and LaCava seemingly buried the hatchet with Cantlay’s caddie reportedly reaching out to apologise.
“So we texted,” McIlroy said after winning his singles match on the Sunday. “We haven’t seen each other face-to-face, but we’ve texted and everything will be fine.
“But it’s a point of contention and it still hurts, but time is a great healer and we all move on.”
Europe dominated the 2023 Ryder CupGettyRory McIlroy vs Jim ‘Bones’ MacKay
McIlroy took ownership of the car park incident with Thomas’ caddie and said he apologised.
It was a case of wrong place and wrong time.
“I texted Bones this morning,” McIlroy said.
“He was the first American I saw after I got out of the locker room so he was the one that took the brunt of it. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I texted Bones this morning and apologized for that.
“I was hot coming out of that yesterday. I was pretty angry. I didn’t agree with what happened on 18, but I think I let it fuel the fire today and it focused me and I was able to go out there and get my point.”
Who won the 2023 Ryder Cup?
The European fans in Rome were quick to give McIlroy his own chant the next morning.
They sang, to the tune of Zombie by The Cranberries, ‘he’s in your head, in your head… Rory… Rory… Rory’.
Despite the efforts to get in Team Europe’s head it was a convincing win for the home team.
A 4-0 whitewash on the very first session on Friday set the tone for an eventual 16.5 to 11.5 victory.
Now all eyes will be on Bethpage for the 2025 Ryder Cup as Europe look to win a first away victory since the Miracle of Medinah in 2012.
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