WATCH: Furious Rory McIlroy loses cool in car park caddie confrontation

Rory McIlroy and Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, the caddie for Justin Thomas, have been filmed embroiled in a heated car park exchange as a dramatic Ryder Cup Saturday drew to a close.

A furious McIlroy was filmed remonstrating with the experienced looper before being pushed into a car by his European teammate Shane Lowry as his wife Erica and several bystanders watched on.

The extraordinary clip has already been widely shared on social media and you can see it below…

What’s gone off here then 👀

pic.twitter.com/WikIgxmC6w

— bunkered (@BunkeredOnline) September 30, 2023

European captain Luke Donald subsequently revealed that McIlroy’s furious raection was caused by another caddie, Joe LaCava, celebrating too exuberantly in front of the Irishman after his man, Patrick Cantlay, converted a birdie on the 18th to snatch a dramatic late point for the US.

“When Patrick made that putt, Joe was waving his hat,” said Donald. “Rory politely asked Joe to move aside from his line of vision. He stood there and didn’t move for awhile and continued to wave the hat.”

So here’s the context…

Cantlay’s late heroics give the United States a glimmer of hope going into Sunday’s singles session, with Europe leading 10.5-5.5 at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Luke Donald’s men had held a seven-point advantage after the morning’s session but saw that trimmed by an American fightback in the fourballs. Zach Johnson’s side won the afternoon 3-1 to carry some momentum into Sunday’s decisive singles.

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Cantlay had been singled out for special treatment by an intensely partisan home crowd on Saturday after reports of him refusing to wear a cap in protest over players not being compensated for playing in the Ryder Cup went viral.

Supporters responded by taking off their caps and waving them in his direction for much of the round but the American had the last laugh with his final hole heroics, which prompted his teammates and their caddies – LaCava included – to respond by taking off their own hats and wave them at the crowd.

McIlroy’s fellow Irishman Paul McGinley, who captained Europe to victory in the 2014 match at Gleneagles, took to social media to share his thoughts on the incident…

Have no problem with Europe’s and Rorys passion at the end and in the car park – great sport & Ryder cups should stir emotion in players of both sides – hearts on fire 🔥 @SkySportsGolf

— Paul McGinley (@mcginleygolf) September 30, 2023

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor