Rory McIlroy has revealed how he witnessed European supporters heckling Patrick Cantlay at last year’s memorable Ryder Cup event in Rome.

The Italian capital served as the stage for a highly charged golfing showdown, steered by captain Luke Donald to Team Europe’s victory over the USA. The drama wasn’t confined only to the course as Cantlay found himself embroiled in controversy.

Reports emerged during the second day, as told by Sky Sports, that suggested Cantlay had created a rift within the U.S. squad. He supposedly protested not receiving payment for his participation by opting out of wearing a U.S. cap.

This rumor swirled just before Cantlay was set to face off with Wyndham Clark against the duo of McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick. European fans caught onto the rumors rapidly, flapping their caps at Cantlay in a jeering manner.

McIlroy, speaking to the ‘Una Famiglia’ documentary crew, commented on the commotion: “It was a great match back and forth, and then there was some mumblings that Patrick wasn’t wearing a hat because it was a silent protest for the Americans not getting paid to play. I will never forget walking down the 16th hole and there are 20,000 people waving their hats in the air. It was an amazing moment.”

The drama didn’t end there, as Cantlay and Clark triumphed over McIlroy and Fitzpatrick on the final hole, thanks to a long-range putt from the Cantlay. The victory sparked wild celebrations, with Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava directing his hat-waving at McIlroy, who still had a putt to half the hole.

European fans taunted Patrick Cantlay

European fans taunted Patrick Cantlay ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Tensions escalated when McIlroy missed his putt and confronted LaCava alongside Shane Lowry. The situation further deteriorated when McIlroy clashed with another U.S. caddie, Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, in the car park shortly after.

“Patrick’s caddie Joe stood there a little bit longer than he should have,” McIlroy noted. “I was trying to read my putt and he was in the way. I asked him to move and he didn’t take too kindly to that.”

The Northern Irishman added: “The fun and games sort of happened after that… Not my proudest moment. But I felt like what happened on the 18th green and what spilled over into the car park, it almost made us feel that we were more ready than ever to go out on Sunday and to all win our points and get that Ryder Cup back.”