Rory McIlroy Texted With Joe LaCava About Tense 18th Hole at Ryder Cup: 'It Still Hurts'
Editor's note: The below story is an update from an earlier version, when Rory McIlroy denied having met Joe LaCava in person to clear the air.
ROME — Rory McIlroy said in the glow of victory Sunday night that he was still bothered by the incident on the 18th green at Marco Simone Golf Club on Saturday that involved longtime caddie, Joe LaCava, who was working for American Patrick Cantlay.
After a contentious day that saw the Americans claw their way back to win that match when Cantlay made a long putt on the 18th green, LaCava was seen waiving his hat in mock derision and got in McIlroy’s way on the green. McIlroy still had a putt to tie, and words were exchanged with LaCava going back to say more.
The tension spilled over into the parking lot later, when McIlroy was seen yelling at Jim "Bones" Mackay, the caddie for Justin Thomas.
There was a report earlier Sunday that McIlroy and LaCava met before the final-day singles session to clear the air, but McIlroy denied that afterward.
Rory McIlroy said Saturday's incident left him more focused to earn a point Sunday.
Andrew Medichini/AP
"So we texted," McIlroy said after winning his singles match 3 and 1 over Sam Burns on the way to a 16½ to 11½ European victory. “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."
But McIlroy said he had not moved on Saturday night and into Sunday.
McIlroy was upset that LaCava, a 30-year veteran who worked long stints for Fred Couples and Tiger Woods before going to work for Cantlay in May, did not move out if his line of sign when asked.
Something McIlroy said upset LaCava, leading to a heated confrontation that continued as the golfer was about to line up his putt on the green. It continued later in the club parking lot, where video was captured of McIlroy calling it "a disgrace" as he yelled at Mackay, with Irish golfer Shane Lowry stepping in front of McIlroy to try and calm him down.
"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."
Cantlay had birdied the last three holes with partner Wyndham Clark in their match with McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick. The birdie on the 18th was from 43 feet, but both McIlroy and Fitzpatrick had putts to tie, with the U.S. team and LaCava in particular celebrating by mockingly waving their hats to the crowd.
That was the only match McIlroy lost at the Ryder Cup. He went 4-1 for the European team.
"I was focused. I was very focused," McIlroy said. I let it fuel me. I didn’t let it take away from what’s been a fantastic week. I used that little incident last night to my advantage."
LaCava, when approached by reporters after Cantlay’s singles victory over Justin Rose on Sunday, politely declined to comment. "I’ve been told by the captain (Zach Johnson) not to say anything. I’m sorry. Not until further notice."
Cantlay said again Sunday that he didn’t see much of what occurred on the green.
"We talked about it as a team last night," McIlroy said. “We felt like it was disrespectful, and it wasn't just disrespectful to Fitz and I. It was disrespectful to the whole team.
"I get that we get the banter when we go over to the States and play, and you know, the same happens here. It's just the way it is. It the way the Ryder Cup goes. You have to have thick skin. That's just the way it is."