You can expect some excitement and brawling at a senior hockey game, but not on the 18the Green and in the parking lot of the Ryder Cup venue. This happened at the very end of the second day of competition at the Marco Simone Golf Club in Rome. Rory McIlroy and junior Joe LaCava caught the attention.
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The first lost his temper shortly before leaving the club after the events that had previously occurred in his last appearance.
As we get into the car, we see the leader of the European team turn on his heel and point at what appear to be members of the American team. Cadet Jim “Bones” Mackay is nearby. Angry, McIlroy lets him know what he thinks. It will require the intervention of his teammate Shane Lowry to calm him down and get him back to the car.
This is because McIlroy, like several other European golfers, was disturbed by the disturbing and arrogant attitude of veteran cadet LaCava on the 18th. Too close to the golfer about to make his final putt in a very close game, LaCava was in his field of vision and waved his cap, which may have been a reaction to the treatment fellow golfer Patrick Cantley received from spectators.
Refusal to comply
According to European captain Luke Donald’s report, McIlroy politely asked him to move out of his sight.
“Joe stood there waving his hat all the time,” Donald added of the context that led to the scene in the parking lot.
After the argument with “Rory” we can easily read a few unpleasant words on his lips.
Live From just showed this angle of LaCava on the 18th green in Rory’s kitchen as he prepared for his birdie putt. Definitely right in Rory’s way. pic.twitter.com/NcBAILHBcJ
– Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) September 30, 2023
McIlroy missed his putt, allowing American pair Cantley and Wyndham Clarke to score a very valuable point thanks to a win by one hole (1 advantage).
After the game on the green, the mood also increased as many members of the European team did not appreciate the actions of the famous cadet who has been dragging Tiger Woods’ bag behind him for years.
The famous skullcap
Rumors circulated throughout the day that Patrick Cantley would not wear the U.S. cap in protest at not being paid during the tournament, which would cause discord in the U.S. locker room.
However, the golfers will receive, among other things, $200,000 each, which they must donate to a charity of their choice.
Cantley explained his decision not to wear the skullcap because he felt it was too small. However, he didn’t wear it for his first appearance at the Whistling Straits Ryder Cup two years ago.
The rumors roused spectators, who mocked Cantley all day by waving their skullcaps. The American still won one of the two games in which he took part.
On this second day of hostility, the European Championships won four of the eight games shown.
In the morning, Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg literally defeated Americans Scottie Scheffler and Brooks Koepka, humiliating them with a victory from the 11th flag and then taking a nine-hole lead (9&7) with seven holes to go. . In doing so, they set a Ryder Cup record that had been held since 1927.
Before the final day of competition, the Europeans have a lead of 10.5 to 5.5.
Here are the 12 duels scheduled for tomorrow.