On Saturday of the 2023 Ryder Cup, when Patrick Cantlay walked around the bunker of the 17th hole, the European crowd’s made-up song, ‘Ole, Ole, Ole, Hats offffff for your bank account,’ was the absolute chatter. But it didn’t deter Cantlay from making that putt or making another 43-footer on the 18th green as the sun set and getting the Americans a crucial point as his teammate raised their hats toward the crowd in response to the chants.

Cantlay and Wyndham Clark won a match against Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick, but why were the fans teasing Cantlay about the hat? Just a few hours before the American duo hit the evening session, Jamie Weir of Sky Sports reported on X that there was a rift between Team USA and Cantlay was leading that. It was speculated that the 8-time PGA Tour winner wanted the American team to be paid for playing the Ryder Cup, and in protest, he decided to go hatless.

From there onwards, the news spread like wildfire. More than a year later, his friend, Justin Thomas, spoke about the issue again at Albany, Bahamas. JT expressed that what started on Saturday of the Ryder Cup in Rome “was started by the media.” He further explained that he has known Cantlay for years now; the pro added, “Sorry, Pat, he’s got a weird-shaped head; that’s why he doesn’t wear a hat. You can talk to any team, the Presidents Cup; he went through it; he had a hard time finding a hat that fit his head.”

So when it comes to tournaments where he can opt to not wear a hat, Cantlay would likely go with that option because why would he be uncomfortable unnecessarily? Surprisingly, McIlory has a similar problem. His head is not weirdly shaped, but is small, says the golfer himself.

Thomas revealed that he and Cantlay still joke about the whole incident because it was far from the truth and made a big deal when it shouldn’t be. He sarcastically took a jab at the media stories circulating at that time and said, “But why let facts get in the way of a good story?” Cantlay’s name is in the headlines again because of the money issue. This time, the reports say that his protest in Rome might have worked.

Was Patrick Cantlay’s hatless stunt the reason for money talks?

Another report emerged a year after Patrick Cantlay’s hatgate protesting for the Ryder Cup money. This time it was rumored that the American team particularly would be paid $400,000 each for participating in the Ryder Cup at Bethpage, and after it, the Telegraph reported. Since then, many golfers have spoken against or in favor of it. From the European side, Rory McIlroy asserted that it was a privilege to play in the Ryder Cup and that he would rather pay for it.

He added that the entire European team shared the same sentiments. On the other hand, the American team’s captain, Keegan Bradley, revealed that not a single player from his team asked for it. But Tiger Woods was not against the golfer being paid $400,000; he even wanted them to be paid $5 million. However, the 15-time major champion wanted it all to be donated to a charity that may help people and grow the game of golf.

All of this chatter is once again getting linked to that one evening in Rome with Patrick Cantlay. The alleged hatless protest is in the spotlight as the start of the money move, and that’s why Justin Thomas was asked about it again at the press conference of the Hero World Challenge. The golfer has said time and again that Cantlay’s hat just didn’t fit; he wasn’t asking for money, and he isn’t certainly asking for it now.