Hat Gate – What has happened since the incident between Rory McIlroy and Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava?

At the 2024 US Open, Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay will be paired together in the penultimate group for the first time since their infamous incident at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

The Hat Gate incident occurred on the second day of the famous team event and since then there has been friction between McIlroy and Cantlay, adding some more spice to the duo’s match at Pinehurst No. 2.

We’ve created a timeline of what actually happened between McIlroy and Cantlay as the duo teed off at the US Open at 2:10 p.m. ET (7:10 p.m. BST) on Sunday.

September 30, 2023 – Tomorrow

According to a report from Sky Sports, there is a rift in the US Ryder Cup camp over certain players’ desire to be paid, with Cantlay refusing to wear a US team cap.

Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir reported that the American did not wear a cap to “demonstrate his frustration” at not being paid, but the journalist later reported that Cantlay’s agent told him the reason was because he had not found a suitable fit that he was comfortable with.

September 30, 2023 – Afternoon

After hours of jeers that included European fans waving their hats to Marco Simone, Cantlay and Wyndham defeated Clark McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick in the four-ball session on Saturday afternoon, with Cantlay holing some incredible putts down the home stretch to secure the win.

McIlroy has a match-tying putt and expresses his anger at Cantlay’s caddie, LaCava, who apparently keeps celebrating for too long. McIlroy misses his birdie putt and as a result, European player Shane Lowry and LaCava are separated from the representative parties.

But it doesn’t end there, as McIlroy is then seen arguing in the parking lot, this time with Justin Thomas’ caddy, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay. Finally, McIlroy is put in Lowry’s car as they all leave the golf course.

Joe LaCava speaks to members of the European team at the Ryder Cup

LaCava and Team Europe on Saturday of the Ryder Cup 2023

(Image credit: Getty Images)

October 1, 2023

Following the incident on Saturday night, McIlroy apologized to Mackay for his outburst, while LaCava reportedly also apologized to McIlroy. Rory later stated that LaCava texted him to clear things up.

In the end, Europe won the Ryder Cup 16.5 – 11.5, with Cantlay claiming a 2&1 victory, while McIlroy was Europe’s top scorer in the event after defeating Sam Burns 3&1 on Sunday. After the tournament, Cantlay claimed that reports that he was leading a split in a “fractured” US Ryder Cup team were “complete lies” and “totally unfounded”.

12 November 2023

After the dust had settled, McIlroy gave an interview to the Irish Independent about the Ryder Cup incident. The multiple major winner revealed that Tiger Woods even sent him a message after the debacle.

In the interview, McIlroy admits that he doesn’t have a particularly good relationship with Cantlay, saying: “That upset me. My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don’t have much in common and we see the world very differently. But when I saw him getting into trouble on the 17th and 18th greens, I tried to calm the crowd down for him. I don’t think Fitz and I had the same opportunity to hole those putts to halve the match.

“I shook hands with Joe and Patrick. The three putts he made on holes 16, 17 and 18 were fantastic and under that pressure it was a great achievement to give the team a glimmer of hope on Sunday. So all respect to him.”

Later in the interview with Paul Kimmage, McIlroy describes in detail what happened when he returned to the hotel that Saturday night, claiming he saw Ricky Elliott, Brooks Koepka’s caddy, and coach Claude Harmon III.

“I started attacking them,” McIlroy explains, and the Northern Irishman adds: “‘Joe LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger, and now he’s caddying for that wanker (Cantlay) who’s turned into an asshole…’ I still wasn’t in the best shape.”

December 31, 2023

In an exclusive interview with Golf.com, Cantlay explained that McIlroy’s comments were taken out of context. The American stated: “I saw that. I think it was taken out of context. And that’s the world we live in, where the headline dictates the story.”

Cantlay also talks about the continued involvement in the PGA Tour-PIF merger, which was announced in June 2023. Both the 32-year-old and McIlroy served on the PGA Tour’s policy board, but in November of that year McIlroy resigned from his position. Cantlay explained: “I think we’re both very competitive and we’re both trying to be the absolute best.”

He adds: “I think we both admire that aspect of each other. As far as the Policy Board goes, we worked really closely together and developed a really good working relationship during my year on the board. You see, I spoke to him after the Ryder Cup and, you know, everything was cordial and good.”

Cantlay and McIlroy during the second round of the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship

Cantlay and McIlroy at the FedEx St. Jude Championship 2022

(Image credit: Getty Images)

April/May 2024

In late April, after six months off the board, McIlroy opened up about a possible return. The Guardian reported that the four-time major winner had been asked to return by Webb Simpson.

At the time, the 35-year-old said: “I think I can be helpful. I don’t think there’s been much progress in the last eight months and I was hoping there would be. I think I could help the process. But only if people want me to be there, I guess. When Webb and I were talking and he was talking about potentially stepping down from the board, I said, ‘Look, if it was something other people wanted, I’d be happy to take that seat,’ and that was the conversation we had.”

Two weeks later, however, McIlroy ruled out a return, claiming: “There were a lot of talks. I was kind of reminded in part of why I didn’t do it. So yeah, I think it just got pretty complicated and pretty messy, and I think the way it happened, it reopened some old wounds and scars from things that happened before. I think there was a subset of people on the board that maybe didn’t feel comfortable with me coming back for some reason.” Cantlay is reportedly one of those opposed to McIlroy returning…

May 8, 2024

According to an anonymous source who spoke to Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, there are calls for McIlroy to return to the board. One tournament director claimed McIlroy is aware that his resignation was a big mistake.

In the report, the anonymous director says: “We need Rory back on the board. Had he stayed, he could have castrated Cantlay. He is the only one with the power to castrate Cantlay. We need Rory to stop Cantlay from ruining the Tour. Webb is too nice. A lot of people at a very high level on the Tour are excited to have Rory back on the board for this reason.”

Rory McIlroy hits an approach shot with an iron

McIlroy is looking for his first major title in over 10 years

(Image credit: Getty Images)

June 15, 2024

Both Cantlay and McIlroy are in the lead after the first round of the US Open, both shooting five under par and 65. After the next two days, the two will then move together into the final round on Sunday.

When asked about Saturday night’s pairing, Cantlay replied: “Yeah, should be great,” before adding: “To be honest – I don’t know how Bryson does, but a second or T-second tomorrow puts me in a great position. It’s a challenging golf course. If you can get a few birdies you can make up a lot of ground. I’m really happy with my play today and looking forward to tomorrow.”

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