Tensions have boiled over at the Ryder Cup after Rory McIlroy was seen furiously confronting a member of the U.S. team in the car park at Marco Simone following the end of play on Saturday.
Rory McIlroy was involved in a confrontation
Rory McIlroy was involved in a furious, foul-mouthed bust-up in the CAR PARK of Marco Simone Golf Club after an explosive end to day two of the Ryder Cup.
McIlroy had to be bundled away by team-mate Shane Lowry after launching a verbal attack following his dramatic defeat in the afternoon fourballs.
And the Northern Irishman said the acrimonious scenes would give him “fuel for the fire ” as Team Europe look for the four points that would see them win back the Ryder Cup. “There were a few scenes there on 18 and (it is) just fuel for the fire tomorrow,” said McIlroy, immediately after his first loss of the 2023 cup.
The world number two and his partner Matt Fitzpatrick were defeated by Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay, whose caddie Joe LaCava infuriated McIlroy by waving his cap in celebration BEFORE the Irishman had a chance to hole a putt that could have earned the Europeans a tie.
LaCava was also slow to move when asked to get out of the way by McIlroy, who wanted to line up his attempt. LaCava’s antics provoked an angry confrontation between McIlroy and Cantlay’s bagman ON the green, and Team Europe’s talisman was clearly still furious when he came across a group of American caddies outside the clubhouse.
He was caught on video, stood in front of Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay – Justin Thomas’s caddie – angrily pointing at someone, widely believed to be LaCava. He was yelling furiously and Lowry had to intervene, physically urging McIlroy into a waiting car.
The clash sets up a final day on which Europe need just four points to win the Ryder Cup after the eight Friday matches brought four points apiece to leave the overall score at 10 1/2 – 5 1/2.
Europe skipper Luke Donald said he would be talking to McIlroy back at the team hotel. Donald said: “I am aware of it (the bust-up). Rory is a passionate player. We all are. I will speak to him later about it.
“We are all competitors and want to win but we want to do it in the right way. From what I’m told, Rory asked Joey to move and he took a long time to move, so Rory got upset – and I understand that.”
The clash came after another dramatic day of golf on the course in Rome. Europe headed into day two with a comfortable five-point lead, and things only got better for the hosts as they added a further three points in the morning foursomes. The United States’ chances were slipping away by the match, but regained some hope in the afternoon fourballs.
Zach Johnson’s team secured their first session win of the day, winning three games from four, including the dramatic finale between McIlroy and Fitzpatrick and Cantlay and Clark. The drama sets up a final day on which Europe need just four points to win the Ryder Cup.