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By Julio Cesar Valdera Morales
Contributing Sports Writer
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Rory McIlroy made headlines during the 2023 Ryder Cup not only for being the best performer on the European team, but also for being involved in one of the tensest moments of the week.
We're talking, of course, about his now famous incident with Joe LaCava.
Although it didn't have any major consequences, it's a testament to the intense competitiveness of the Ryder Cup. McIlroy not only sees it this way but also expects similar situations at Bethpage Black next week.
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"I think it's inevitable," he summed it up in a recent interview with The Guardian's Ewan Murray.
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Two years ago, Rory McIlroy partnered with Matt Fitzpatrick in a Saturday fourball match against Patrick Cantlay, who was, and still is, accompanied by caddie Joe LaCava, and Xander Schauffele. Cantlay made a crucial putt on the 18th hole that ultimately gave them the match victory but also sparked the most heated controversy of the event.
All the Americans present cheered enthusiastically for Cantlay's putt, including LaCava, who celebrated on the green. McIlroy, who was preparing for his own putt on the hole, took issue with the legendary caddie celebrating near his putting line, which sparked an argument.
The exchange was quite heated, and although it died down there, it later continued in the parking lot, with the famous images of Shane Lowry separating McIlroy from LaCava.
During his interview with Murray, McIlroy predicted that the atmosphere at Bethpage Black will lead to something similar, whether he's the protagonist or not.
"I think it's inevitable something is going to happen in New York. It might not involve me, but it is inevitable that something will happen, whether like in Rome last time or something else," he told Murray.
"I just think when you go into that environment and you are there for five or six days and the crowd are on you for eight hours, so many days in a row ... it is inevitable it will get to someone or get to us as a group at some point. We are just going to have to do a really good job of managing that, having each other's backs and protecting each other."
The Ryder Cup's competitive action tees off next Friday and continues through Sunday at Bethpage Black. In the days leading up to the tournament, both Team Europe and Team USA will participate in practice rounds and a Pro-Am event.
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