Patrick Cantlay has cut a despondent figure at the Ryder Cup thus far, as he and Team USA struggle to get anything of note on the scoreboard.
It has been a rampant rout for Europe thus far, who took an historic four points from four on Friday morning, before holding the US winless again on Friday afternoon - the first time in the European era of Ryder Cup history that either team has failed to win a single day one game.
Cantlay and partner Xander Schauffele lost to Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood's "Fleetwood Mc" pairing on Friday morning, before once again coming out on the losing side against Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton on Saturday morning.
Team US have not enjoyed the rub of the green thus far, and it now appears as though Cantlay may be at the centre of a dispute within the American group in Rome.
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Report: Team USA split down middle with Patrick Cantlay at heart of dispute
Friday evening brought the first reports of some ill-will among the American players, with Brooks Koepka throwing a snide remark at Jon Rahm after his defeat to the Spaniard in the afternoon fourballs. Later on Friday, reports suggested that the enthusiastic celebrations of Shane Lowry had gotten on the nerves of Justin Thomas.
The latest reports on Saturday suggest that the issues among the American team may even run deeper, with an intra-team dispute emerging due to the antics of Patrick Cantlay.
29 September 2023; Patrick Cantlay of USA watches his drive from the fourth tee box during the morning foursomes matches on day one of the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome, Italy. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Jamie Weir of Sky Sports has suggested that Cantlay is unhappy with the lack of payment for the players in Rome.
American Ryder Cup players are not paid for their efforts, instead receiving $200,000 to donate to charity - $100,000 to a charity of their choice, and $100,000 to charities of the PGA's choosing. European players receive a personal gift from their captain. Weir's report states that Cantlay and close friend Schauffele have begun to separate themselves from the rest of the team in the locker room in protest.
As well as this, Weir has suggested that the team USA hats are strangely at the centre of this dispute. Cantlay has allegedly refused to don an American cap in protest at the lack of payment, and similarly refused to attend the US banquet ahead of the tournament.
Cantlay and Schauffele were two of the three players who did not attend the USA's scouting trip to the course in Rome ahead of the Ryder Cup, as they were attending Cantlay's stag do. The third was Jordan Spieth, who was awaiting the birth of his child.
The body language from both Schauffele and, in particular, Cantlay has looked despondent all weekend, and was summed up by the TV cameras' shot of the pair on the tee box on Saturday morning alongside the European pairing of Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
this is honestly one of my favorite Ryder Cup images ever pic.twitter.com/Xk4YH1JAWE
— Brendan Porath (@BrendanPorath) September 30, 2023
Allegedly, the only response the US team has given to Jamie Weir's report was to point out that Cantlay also rejected a hat in 2021 - though Weir himself had a quick response.
Pointing out he didn’t wear a cap two years ago merely says he believed he should’ve been paid then too and his position hasn’t changed!! https://t.co/80ytWIik5F
— Jamie Weir (@jamiecweir) September 30, 2023
Ahead of the Ryder Cup, it was suggested that the USA's refusal to allow Netflix cameras into their team was due to objection from Cantlay and Schauffele.
It seems as though team USA is in disarray - and it shows on the scoreboard, as they entered the afternoon fourballs 9.5 to 1.5 down.
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