European fans have been seen mocking Patrick Cantlay en masse after stories emerged that the American was refusing to wear his cap in protest against not being paid for the Ryder Cup.
After what has been a disastrous opening day and a half to the tournament for both the USA and Cantlay, America not only became the first team to not win a single match on the opening day but also broke the record for heaviest defeat with Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler losing their foursome 9&7.
Things weren't much better for Cantlay who lost both foursome matches he played in on Friday and Saturday morning. During his Saturday round, there were reports on social media that Cantlay and foursomes partner Xander Schauffele were sitting in their own area in the US team room. They also said Cantlay was not wearing a baseball cap because he was not happy to play for free.
The news found its way onto Marco Simone as Cantlay played in the final fourball session with Wyndham Clark. European fans brutally mocked him for refusing to wear his cap, viscerally waving all their own caps as Cantlay approached the tenth green.
Cantlay getting some stick about his hat! Europeans waving all their caps at him. #RyderCup2023 pic.twitter.com/gjEFBdVC2E
— Ashley (@AsherRD28) September 30, 2023
The trolling continued on the 15th hole.
The crowd singing to Cantlay on 15 about his no hat policy pic.twitter.com/4BCrNBX0jV
— No Laying Up (@NoLayingUp) September 30, 2023
By the time Cantlay and Clark reached the 16th green, European fans were singing 'hats off for your bank account'.
“Hats off for your bank account” is the chant to Patrick Cantlay on the 16th. What a scene. #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/TzeSPXdSAu
— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) September 30, 2023
“Hats off to your bank account,” fans sing to Patrick Cantlay walking down the 16th #RyderCup pic.twitter.com/0lromGEtTm
— Lawrence Ostlere (@lawrenceostlere) September 30, 2023
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Paul Azinger hits back at 'clickbait' stories about Patrick Cantlay
While the European fans have obviously been enjoying the downfall of Team USA in Rome, former Ryder Cup-winning player and captain Paul Azinger was less than pleased with their conduct around the greens.
Appearing on CBS Golf, Azinger who won the tournament both as a captain and player rubbished the claims of a rift within the camp labelling the story as 'garbage' and putting the American's disjointed behaviour down to an apparent illness within the camp.
That's just hearsay, it's a garbage story, it's just clickbait in my opinion and I don't believe it.
Zach told everybody yesterday that this American team weren't feeling well, what are they supposed to be all huggy and kissy?
Fans waving their hats right in the face of Patrick Cantlay.
(via NBC) pic.twitter.com/hkAddHkvub— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) September 30, 2023
Whether Azinger is right or not, we'll probably never know but one thing is certain - when things start going astray for Team USA rumours of a rift within the squad always seem to follow.
It's clear from today's encounters that the European fans have no intention of taking it easy on the struggling American players.
UPDATE - Cantlay's agent has said his client's decision not to wear a hat is not a protest, but rather down to the discomfort of the hats.
Cantlay’s agent has refused to confirm or deny to me that Patrick believes players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup, but says his lack of cap is not as a protest against this, but because he couldn’t find a fit he was comfortable with https://t.co/GDoqZCeKXf
— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) September 30, 2023
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