Inside Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay’s fiery feud at US Open as insults traded

Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay, who have a history stretching back to their fiery encounter at last year’s Ryder Cup, have been paired together for the final round of the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2.

McIlroy, after navigating the notoriously challenging Pinehurst No. 2 course to post a score of 69, finds himself at four-under for the week. This puts the four-time major champion in a tie for second place alongside Matthieu Pavon and Cantlay, trailing leader Bryson DeChambeau.

Sunday’s pairing is highly anticipated, given the tense history between McIlroy and Cantlay from the Ryder Cup in Rome. McIlroy was instrumental in helping Team Europe secure a 16.5-11.5 victory over Team USA at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, reclaiming the trophy that had been lost at Whistling Straits two years prior.

During the Ryder Cup fourball matches in Italy, McIlroy, teamed with Matt Fitzpatrick, faced Cantlay and the 2023 U.S. Open champion, Wyndham Clark. Despite McIlroy and Fitzpatrick’s best efforts, Cantlay and Clark clinched the match 1-up by winning the final two holes, which kept Team USA’s hopes alive. However, the aftermath of this match was marked by a heated exchange between McIlroy and Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava, on the 18th green.

LaCava, who formerly caddied for Tiger Woods, appeared to walk near McIlroy as he was lining up a crucial putt, an action that infuriated the Northern Irishman. The disagreement continued into the car park, prompting McIlroy to express his frustration to the Irish Independent: “What angered me was the situation. My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don’t share much in common and have different worldviews. Despite that, I tried to quiet the crowd for him on the 17th and 18th greens when he was under pressure, which I don’t think Fitzpatrick and I were afforded the same opportunity for.”

McIlroy went on to acknowledge Cantlay’s exceptional play under pressure: “I shook Joe’s and Patrick’s hands. Cantlay’s putts on the 16th, 17th, and 18th were remarkable, especially under that pressure. It gave his team a glimmer of hope heading into Sunday, which I respect.”

McIlroy also mentioned the confrontation near the 18th green involving Fred Couples and Thomas Bjorn, saying it was part of the game’s passion, but admitted to feeling a surge of anger as he walked back to the locker room, reflecting on the incident: “As I walked back, I felt a wave of anger coming over me, thinking, ‘No! That wasn’t right.'”

With McIlroy and Cantlay set to compete closely once again, Sunday’s final round promises to be a captivating contest at Pinehurst No. 2.