Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava ‘meets with Rory McIlroy to clear the air and apologises to his European team-mates’ after furious spat with the Northern Irish star at the Ryder Cup

• Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava reached out to Rory McIlroy to apologise 
• LaCava met with the Norther Irishman on Sunday morning ahead of the final day
• The caddie also apologised to the European team for his actions on Saturday 

Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava reached out to Rory McIlroy and the European team to apologise and clear the air ahead of the final day at the Ryder Cup, according to reports. 

The European team were furious with LaCava after he celebrated in front of McIlroy as he prepared for a crucial putt to save the final match on Saturday.

The 68-year-old caddie took of his cap and waved it in the air when Cantlay made a decisive putt on 18 in the crucial last four-ball match.

However, LaCava’s actions were regarded as poor sportsmanship as the Northern Irish golfer still had a putt to tie the match. 

Shane Lowry and Justin Rose were furious with LaCava and decided to confront the experienced caddie at the back of the 18th green.

Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava reached out to Rory McIlroy and the European team to apologise and clear the air ahead of the final day at the Ryder Cup 

The European team were furious with LaCava after he celebrated in front of McIlroy as he prepared for a crucial putt to save the final match on Saturday

The 68-year-old caddie took of his cap and waved it in the air when Cantlay made a decisive putt on 18 in the crucial last four-ball match

Tensions then spilled over onto the car park with McIlroy heard shouting ‘this can’t happen, this can’t happen – it’s a f*****g disgrace’ at the caddie. 

As a result, a security guard was forced to step in and calm things down before teammate Lowry guided McIlroy to a waiting BMW 4×4. 

According to NBC, LaCava has reached out to the European team to apologise for his behaviour on Saturday afternoon. 

He is said to have met with McIlroy this morning – with the pair looking to put yesterday’s antics behind them. 

Europe head into the final day needing four points to regain the trophy with a lead of 10.5-5.5 following a late US comeback but a rollercoaster day of golf was overshadowed by extraordinary scenes as the sun set.

The first flashpoint was triggered on the 18th. Fans at a raucous Marco Simone had spent the round taunting Cantlay by waving their hats in the air after an earlier report claimed he was not wearing a cap as a form of protest against not being paid for competing in the tournament – something he later denied.

And when Cantlay sank a stunning 30-footer to put the US on the brink of winning his match with Wyndham Clark against McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick he responded by mimicking taking off a hat – while bag man LaCava joyously twirled his in McIlroy’s line of vision.

McIlroy made his feelings clear before LaCava went back to argue the point as McIlroy weighed up the key shot. Both Lowry and Rose, who had gathered to watch, also spoke to LaCava and – when subsequently McIlroy and Fitzpatrick missed their shots – made their way onto the green to reinforce the point as the row continued up the tunnel to the clubhouse.

Tempers appeared to cool but around 20 minutes later a video clip emerged of a further confrontation on the car park. McIlroy, still in his playing gear, could be seen angrily pointing his finger and shouting at someone off shot, believed to be LaCava.

McIlroy appeared to address the situation on Saturday, saying: ‘Matt and I played well. Obviously they had a great finish and Patrick made three great putts at the end to seal the deal, so hats off to them, 

‘They played a great match, and… a few scenes there on 18 and just fuel for the fire tomorrow.’

Meanwhile, Luke Donald said: ‘I’ll talk with Rory when I get back. I didn’t see the incident (on the car park). I saw the one on 18. I think we always — as I said in my speech, we always try and play with passion, play with energy, but play with respect. That will certainly be my message to the players.’

On the other hand, Zach Johnson defended LaCava. ‘I saw passion and all of what’s great in the Ryder Cup come out,’ he said. ‘And to my knowledge, based on what I was told, that was diffused after the match, and so I’m told it’s all good.’

Meanwhile, Spain’s Jon Rahm hit back at LIV rebel Brooks Koepka who on Friday had accused him of acting like a child after he sank a 25-foot putt for an eagle to tie their fourball on the last.

‘Whatever he says, it shouldn’t change the way I approach this tournament,’ Rahm said. ‘That’s it. I’m here to do my job and whatever comments anybody else may have shouldn’t really change the way I go about it or what I think of myself.’

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