The 18th green spat between Rory McIlroy and Joe LaCava - with Shane Lowry also involved - has added some needed niggle to the 2023 Ryder Cup, as Europe continue their blowout of Team USA in the Sunday singles.
It was then reported this morning that LaCava, the caddie of Patrick Cantlay, contacted Rory' camp to apologise and hash things out before the final day.
READ HERE: Rory McIlroy Enraged In Car Park Minutes After Lowry Confrontation With Cantlay's Caddie
"NBC reporting that Joe reached out to Rory and European team last night to clear the air," tweeted Sports Illustrated's Bob Harig, "and that he met with Rory this morning to apologise and get last night's incident behind them going into final day".
However, McIlroy confirmed that the pair did not meet:
He reached out last night but we haven’t met. I would rather let this get over and done with and handle it afterwards.
New footage of the incident, which occurred last night and can read about in full here, clearly shows that the caddie's celebrations were indeed over-the-top, and the McIlroy was justified in his reaction.
The Best View Of Rory McIlroy's And Joe LaCava's Ryder Cup Spat
‘Hatgate’ - the unabridged version.
The caddie was completely out of order here in my view and was deliberately trying to put Rory off.
LaCava’s ‘excuse’ to Shane was, “I just wanted to celebrate” -
Utter bulls*it, Joe. pic.twitter.com/d9pzBN5mwN
— TheGolfDivoTee™ (@TheGolfDivoTee) October 1, 2023
Contrary to suggestions, Joe LaCava did not meet Rory McIlroy this morning to apologise. Suffice to say Rory is far from happy with what went on last night.
"He reached out last night but we haven’t met. I would rather let this get over and done with and handle it afterwards."— Ewan Murray (@mrewanmurray) October 1, 2023
NBC reporting that Joe reached out to Rory and European team last night to clear the air and that he met with Rory this morning to apologize and get last night's incident behind them going into final day
— Bob Harig (@BobHarig) October 1, 2023
READ HERE: Rory McIlroy Broke Down In Tears During Incredibly Emotional Ryder Cup Interview
The spat continued later that evening with McIlroy issuing expletives in the car park towards Justin Thomas' caddie Jim 'Bones' Mackay', before being ushered off by Shane Lowry.
“Bones took the brunt of it because he was the first American I saw when I left the locker room," explained McIlroy.
"But I texted him this morning to apologise.”
SEE ALSO: Bad Blood Between Lowry And Cantlay Goes Back To 2021 Ryder Cup
