Rory McIlroy opens up on Joe LaCava relationship after Ryder Cup row

Rory McIlroy says he and Joe LaCava have buried the hatchet following their Ryder Cup ruckus.

Four-time major champion McIlroy reacted angrily LaCava celebrating a crucial putt by his player Patrick Cantlay at the close of play during Saturday’s fourballs session in Rome last month.

The row continued into the car park at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club, with the Northern Irishman later explaining how the incident had fuelled Europe’s subsequent victory.

However, speaking to the BBC during this week’s Formula 1 race in Texas, McIlroy revealed all is now well and that he and LaCava have settled their differences.

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“Things happen in the heat of the moment,” he said. “Tensions were high. Joe LaCava came into the European team room on the Sunday night and had a drink and a chat.

“I’ve had a great relationship with Joe over the years when he caddied for Tiger and that wasn’t going to change.

“For me, the incident happened, I purposely didn’t want to meet anyone on the Sunday morning because I wanted what had happened to fuel me for that day.

“My whole focus was let’s make sure Europe win the Ryder Cup and then we will sort all the other stuff out afterwards.

“And it’s all fine. We’re all friends now.”

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McIlroy also explained what prompted him to invest in the Alpine F1 team, describing it as ‘a great opportunity’.

“I’ve always been a big fan of F1,” he said. “There has been quite a bit of Northern Irish/Irish connection there with Eddie Jordan and Eddie Irvine back in the day. It’s always been something I followed.

“When this opportunity came up, I just think with the popularity of F1, how much it’s booming in the US in particular – and I have invested in a few things – but this has got more of a story and a journey.

“F1 as a whole, they do it so well. Golf could learn quite a bit from F1 in terms of some of the set-up stuff and how they do things.”

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