Rory McIlroy: I used anger to my advantage on way to Europe’s Ryder Cup triumph
Team USA vice-captain Fred Couples claims Team Europe veteran Rory McIlroy clashed with as many as three caddies on an emotional Saturday evening at the Ryder Cup. Footage of the world No. 2 raging at Justin Thomas’ caddie Jim “Bones” McKay in the car park went viral over the weekend.
McIlroy was fresh from losing to Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark in the final fourballs match on Saturday alongside European teammate Matt Fitzpatrick. The Northern Irishman was aiming to maintain his 100% record after three wins from his first three matches in Italy. He fell just short on the 18th hole thanks to a 35-foot birdie from Cantlay.
However, it was the conduct of the American’s caddie, Joe LaCava, that he took umbrage out on the Marco Simone course rather than the result. Couples has now shared on his SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio what he made of the situation after speaking with LaCava.
“I asked him (Cantlay’s caddy) what was said. He said Rory looked at him and said, ‘Mooove.’ And he made the ‘ooo’ last a little longer. And Joe replied, ‘Relax, Rory.’”
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The US vice-captain insists everything remained respectful at all times. “I want someone to tell me where anything that happened is disrespectful. I didn’t see it.
“Patrick screamed, which he doesn’t do very often, and he tipped his fake cap. We all were on the front of the green. No one moved. We just took our hats off and made little circles with our hats.
Couples continued: “Joe LaCava was standing (on the green). I don’t think he moved two feet. People think he shushed Rory when he did that hand gesture.
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“Little Harry Diamond, who we all love, too, caddies for Rory, then he chimed in. So Joe said, ‘I don’t have time for you.’
“Then Joe turned to get out of the way. And Shane Lowry and (European vice-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 (American) football for taunting. He said he was 6 feet from him. Was Joe right? Probably not. Did anyone disrespect the European team?”
Addressing the heated car park conversation, Couples took issue with McIlroy’s tone. ‘He was yelling at Bones,’ he explained, ‘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?’
Couples also claims that Brooks Koepka’s caddie Ricky Elliot told him McIlroy “went at me in the middle of the foyer at the hotel.”
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