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via Reuters

via Reuters

One could say that it’s hardly an engaging golf tournament if it doesn’t have a moment where Rory McIlroy loses his cool. The Northern Irishman is a passionate player and with so much mental investment in the game, he often lashes out when people don’t respect his passion.

The Ryder Cup 2023, being a highly anticipated biennial event, didn’t miss out on a McIlroy moment this year. On day 2, Saturday, right at the 18th hole of McIlroy’s afternoon match, the devil looked up at Marco Simone and played a little game himself. Now, McIlroy has put an end to it, publicly.

McIlroy decides enough is enough 

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While Rory McIlroy was about to sink his putt on the 18th hole, an incident happened. He was playing alongside Matt Fitzpatrick against Patrick Cantlay and Wyndham Clark. At the 18th hole, Cantlay and Clark were about to win the hole and the match. Cantlay had holed his ball and was waiting for McIlroy to play his shot.

Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava celebrated Cantlay’s putt, and the potential win of the hole and match, a bit too early. Not that the celebration mattered, but it involved him waving his hat around, and that disturbed McIlroy. This led to a whole fiasco on the green and later in the parking lot as well.

Apparently, they have sorted the conflict out. At least that’s what McIlroy’s recent statement implies. “We’ve texted. We haven’t seen each other face to face but everything will be fine. Times a great healer and we’ll all move on.”

 

For the unversed, here is what happened at the greens. Rory McIlroy got triggered by the LaCava’s celebration as he found it disturbing. When McIlroy spoke to LaCava, Tiger Woods‘ former caddie, he insisted he was merely celebrating. The verbal exchange apparently became heated and a couple of other Europeans had to get involved as well. 

Read more: ‘Pathetic Behavior’: Tiger Woods’ Ex Caddie Becomes a Villain As Ugly Scuffle Takes a Dark Turn

In addition to the heated exchange at the green, a parking lot incident also went viral. So much so that the commentators were talking about it today during the singles matches.

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The parking lot incident between McIlroy-LaCava

In a video circulating the web, caddie Jim McKay was speaking with Rory McIlroy. McKay is the former caddie of Phil Mickelson and is currently Justin Thomas’ caddie.

A conversation was going on between McIlroy and McKay in the now infamous parking lot, in the presence of Shane Lowry and his wife. The video circling the web shows McIlroy getting heated there and Lowry holding him back. The couple made sure McIlroy left before he could create a scene. 

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With the current statement, it’s probably safe to assume that McIlroy has calmed down and put the incident behind him. The victory today probably would make it easier for him! 

Watch this story | ‘When is Tiger Eligible?’: Golf Fans Cry Out for Tiger Woods as American Ryder Cup Team Suffers a Huge Blow