Donald on Rory McIlroy's FURIOUS (!) Ryder Cup row: "He felt a line was crossed"

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald claimed Tiger Woods' caddie 'didn't move' when asked as Rory McIlroy lined up a crucial putt in Italy.

Ben Smith

30 Sep 2023

Donald on Rory McIlroy's FURIOUS (!) Ryder Cup row: "He felt a line was crossed" — Donald on Rory McIlroy's FURIOUS (!) Ryder Cup row: "He felt a line was…

ROME - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald says Tiger Woods' caddie Joe LaCava 'didn't move for a while' when Rory McIlroy was lining up his putt on the 18th green at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

McIlroy was playing in the final match of the afternoon session with Matthew Fitzpatrick against Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay.

Cantlay came up clutch and sank a huge birdie putt. Team USA players immediately mocked the European crowd, taking off their caps and waving them around.

WATCH: Rory McIlroy FUMING with caddie in car park after controversy at Ryder Cup

The American golfer had reportedly not been wearing a cap as a protest about Ryder Cup players not getting paid.

For his part Cantlay has said nothing could be further from the truth. The hat doesn't fit and he planned to not wear one all week.

REVEALED: The text message Patrick Cantlay sent to Rory McIlroy after furious Ryder Cup row

But Cantlay did refuse to answer the question on whether competitors in the biennial dustup should.

Cantlay's caddie LaCava is actually on loan from Woods whilst the 15-time major champion recuperates from his latest surgery.

Live From just showed this angle of LaCava on the 18th green in Rory’s kitchen as he prepared for his birdie putt. Definitely right in Rory’s way. pic.twitter.com/NcBAILHBcJ
— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) September 30, 2023

LaCava reportedly 'didn't move for a while', according to captain Donald, as the Ulsterman lined up his putt on the 18th green needing either himself or Fitzpatrick to sink a birdie putt to tie the match.

McIlroy and the Englishman both missed and lead Team USA by five points going into the Sunday singles.

Donald said:

"Yeah, obviously I was there on 18. I saw it unfold when Patrick made that putt, Joe was waving his hat. Obviously there was some hat waving going on throughout the day from the crowd for our players."

"[I] talked to Rory. He politely asked Joe to move aside. He was in his line of vision. He stood there and didn't move for a while and continued to wave the hat, so I think Rory was upset about that."

Donald on Rory McIlroy's FURIOUS (!) Ryder Cup row:

Video footage from the adjoining car park at the course shows McIlroy absolutely furious.

It is said McIlroy was saying: "This can't happen! This can't happen! It's a f---ing disgrace."

Donald continued:

"Listen, I'll talk with Rory when I get back. I didn't see the [car park] incident personally. I saw the one on 18. Yeah, 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.

"Look, wee love this event because of the passion, but we want to do it the right way. Obviously Rory felt like the line was crossed on the 18th green. Again, I will address it with him when I see him. I wasn't there personally in the car park, but when I get back I will talk with him."

Ryder Cup 2023 results so far

Friday morning foursomes:

4&3 Rahm / Hatton vs. Scheffler / Burns

4&3 Hovland / Aberg vs. Homa / Harman

2&1 Lowry / Straka vs. Fowler / Morikawa

2&1 McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Schauffele / Cantlay

Friday afternoon fourballs:

Tied: Hovland / Hatton vs. Thomas / Spieth

Tied: Rahm / Hovland vs. Scheffler / Kopeka

Tied: Rose / MacIntyre vs. Homa / Clark

5&3 McIlroy / Fitzpatrick vs. Morikawa / Schauffele

Saturday morning foursomes