Rory McIlroy mocks Patrick Cantlay’s pre-shot routine in newly surfaced Ryder Cup footage

A previously unseen clip from the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black has gone viral this week, showing Rory McIlroy openly mocking Patrick Cantlay’s famously deliberate pre-shot routine.

Although the contest itself took place last September, the footage has only just emerged on social media. It shows Cantlay addressing the ball while McIlroy, watching from the tee, mimics the American’s trademark foot shuffling and extended set-up — a clear dig at his slow pace of play.

Cantlay is widely regarded as one of the more methodical players on the PGA Tour, and McIlroy appeared to lose patience as the routine dragged on. The Northern Irishman’s exaggerated movements quickly caught the attention of fans online, with the clip spreading rapidly across platforms.

Watch McIlroy mock Cantlay here: 

The moment occurred during Friday afternoon fourballs, with Cantlay paired alongside Sam Burns and McIlroy teaming up with close friend Shane Lowry. The match itself ended all square.

Despite that tie, Europe ultimately had the final say at Bethpage, edging out the United States 15–13. Captain Luke Donald made history by becoming the first European skipper since Tony Jacklin to retain the Ryder Cup, and could yet go one better should he choose to lead again at Adare Manor in Ireland in 2027.

McIlroy’s Ryder Cup appearance in New York was far from comfortable. He was subjected to sustained verbal abuse from American spectators throughout the week, particularly over the weekend, with tensions spilling over when his wife Erica was struck on the head by a thrown drink from an unruly fan.

Cantlay is no stranger to Ryder Cup controversy himself. At the 2023 contest in Rome, he became a target for European supporters following a Sky Sports Golf report that claimed he had refused to wear a cap in protest at players not being paid to compete. Both Cantlay and Team USA strongly denied the allegation, but fans seized on the story, removing their own caps en masse as he walked the fairways at Marco Simone.

McIlroy and Cantlay's beef goes further, too. That week at Marco Simone saw McIlroy square up to Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava on the 18th green during their Saturday fourballs match. Tensions then boiled over into the car park. 

Cantlay is back in action this week at the Farmers Insurance Open, where he arrives as one of the leading contenders.

McIlroy, meanwhile, has spent the past fortnight competing in the Middle East, finishing tied third at the Dubai Invitational before a more modest T33 at the Dubai Desert Classic. 

The grand slam champion is set to begin his PGA Tour season with a title defence at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am from 12–15 February.