The European’s dominance at the Ryder Cup can be chalked up to several things, one of them being because of the play of world No. 2 Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy admitted that the incident between him and Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava, may have fueled him.
According to ESPN, McIlroy became upset Saturday because LaCava was standing in his putting line and wouldn’t move. LaCava was waving his hat while celebrating Cantlay’s 43-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole.
According to the same report, LaCava reportedly sent a text to McIlroy to apologize, something he denies.
“I haven’t met Joe,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy admitted that the whole incident fired him up and his European teammates.
“I was focused. I was very focused,” McIlroy said Sunday. “I let it fuel me. I didn’t let it take away from what’s been a fantastic week. I used that little incident last night to my advantage.”
“It was a bit of a deflating finish last night,” he said. “But I think what transpired on that last green, it all gave us a little bit of a fire in our bellies to try and get the job done today.”
The Americans did have a late charge at the end, but McIlroy and the rest of the European crew, managed to pull out the victory and win the 2023 Ryder Cup.
{ESPN}
