If Rory McIlroy is going to finally end his major championship drought on Sunday at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2, he will have to beat a bitter rival from this last year’s Ryder Cup.
McIlroy, who is trying to win his first major since the 2014 PGA Championship, will be paired with Patrick Cantlay who he had a dustup with during the Ryder Cup in Paris last fall, won by Team Europe.
McIlroy and Cantlay, who will be in the second-to-last pairing, head into the final round at 4-under-par, three strokes behind third-round leader Bryson DeChambeau.
The beef can be tied back to when McIlroy, who was paired with Matt Fitzpatrick, lost 1-up to Cantlay and Clark in a Saturday Ryder Cup match.
Cantlay, who was on a hatless crusade during that Ryder Cup, drained a big birdie putt and his caddie Joe LaCava jubilantly waved his hat in celebration, which annoyed McIlroy who was getting ready to putt.
McIlroy, who was jawing at LeCava on the 18th green and shortly after the match, ended up angrily going after him in the parking lot after the match which was inadvertently caught by Golf Channel cameras.
In an interview a few months later after Europe’s Ryder Cup win, McIlroy called Cantlay a “d–k” and didn’t have any complimentary words for LeCava either.
“Here’s what angered me,” McIlroy said in the Irish Independent interview. “My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don’t have a ton in common and see the world quite differently.”
The footage of the parking lot incident quickly went viral as it showed McIlroy having to be restrained by teammate Shane Lowry after he crossed paths with several Americans, including Justin Thomas’ caddie, Jim “Bones’’ Mackay.
“And they’re trying to defuse the situation, but I start having a go at them,” McIlroy said. “‘Joe LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger, and now he’s caddying for that d–k he’s turned into a … I still wasn’t in a great headspace.”
Though this rivalry may be a juicy subplot to many golf fans, the 35-year-old McIlroy is just looking to snap his 10-year major-less drought.
Before it was known McIlroy, who is hunting for his fifth career major, would be paired with Cantlay, he spoke about his latest chance to snap his major-less drought.
“I’m pretty much in the same position that I was last year going into the final day at LACC,” McIlroy told reporters Saturday, referring to his loss to Wyndham Clark-sized in last year’s U.S. Open. “Been here many times before, and hopefully tomorrow I produce the golf that’s needed to go one better. No matter what happens — [whether I’m trailing by] two shots, three shots, four shots — I’ve got a great chance going into tomorrow.”
As for the 32-year-old Cantlay, he’s still seeking his first career major and will be trying to maintain his patience on the course in Sunday’s crucial fourth round.
“I think it takes patience and discipline,” said Cantlay, an eight-time winner on the PGA Tour. “I’ve done a good job of that this week trying not to fire at too many flagsticks, especially when I don’t have a wedge in my hands.
“This golf course is all about managing your leaves and being smart. I feel like I’ve done a good job of that so far, and I’m going to take that game plan into tomorrow.”
Because of the challenge Pinehurst No. 2 presents, it’s unlikely the two rivals will have another incident, but it still could make for some interesting TV.
— with AP
