“Bones is one of the nicest guys around. I don’t know what he said to him.”
Paul McGinley was about the only person on the live TV broadcast that was loving the “heated” scenes after a tense finish on the 18th hole of a match involving Rory McIlroy.
The Team Europe talisman was raging after Joe LaCava, the caddie to Patrick Cantlay, started celebrating and waving his cap around on the 18th green.
LaCava waved his cap around, along with members of the European team, after Cantlay dropped a long putt that ended up winning a point for the USA side.
Joe LaCava has gone ☢️ getting into it with the Euros on 18 green over the hat off moment 🤣 pic.twitter.com/9WvMwqNcry
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 30, 2023
Rory McIlroy clashes with ‘Bones’ Mackay
On the flashpoint at the end, Patrick Cantlay said he did not get a good look at the Rory McIlroy clash with his caddie as he was ‘too busy letting out some of the emotion of the day’.
Journalist Rex Hoggard described a heated exchange between McIlroy and Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, who is a former caddie to Phil Mickelson and who has been working with Team USA.
“It was a tense exchange here between Rory McIlroy and Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay… Rory approached him and said [about LaCava’a actions], ‘That can’t happen. It’s a disgrace.’ He then used some language that I can’t use live on air… Shane Lowry had to step in to separate the two.”
A furious Rory McIlroy confronted a Team USA caddie in the car park, after he was spotted waving his cap in McIlroy's face when lining up his final putt on 18… 😳 pic.twitter.com/N0SaDg7AsS
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) September 30, 2023
Todd Lewis, another reporter on the live feed, which carried on Sky Sports, added some more context to the scene. He stated:
“I just came from the 18th green and we saw what happened… the European crowd were giving it to Cantlay… after the match was won, Lowry and a couple of players approached LaCava and said, ‘That can’t happen’… It spilled over and tensions were high.”
Sky Sports then showed footage of Shane Lowry arguing on the final green with Joe LacCava and others from the American team.
Team Europe captain Luke Donald said he was told by Rory McIlroy that he asked LaCava to move, on a couple of occasions, as he was trying to line up a birdie putt that could still level the game. Asked about the car park incident he said, “Rory is a passionate guy.”
“It does feel great to beat them,” said Wyndham Clark, who was Cantlay’s partner for their 1 Up win.
More on this story as it follows…
TIGER WOODS ON PLAYING GOLF IN IRELAND
Related articles:
- 2023 Ryder Cup live: All the big shots, moments, talking points and reactions
- You’ll have to be a complete Ryder Cup die-hard to get full marks in our quiz
- Shane Lowry “incredibly proud” as he’s named as Ireland’s second Ryder Cup player
- Full Swing: Best quotes, weirdest moments and wildest finishes from new Netflix documentary
- “I’m living in reality, I don’t know where he’s living” – Rory McIlroy on Patrick Reed feud
- Shane Lowry interrupts Kiwi journalist after himself and McIlroy asked about Ireland’s chances at Rugby World Cup
WATCH: Liverpool BOTTLED the title race 🤬 | Who will win the Premier League?
