ROME — Despite a report that surfaced on Sunday, there seems to be some question about whether Joe LaCava and Rory McIlroy cleared the air over the tension that occurred on the 18th hole of the final four-balls Ryder Cup match late Saturday.
McIlroy, who was playing with Matt Fitzpatrick against Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay (for whom LaCava caddies), became incensed when LaCava celebrated a Cantlay birdie putt and veered into his personal space while he was lining up his own birdie attempt.
The acrimony spilled into the player parking lot a short time later, when McIlroy, who lost that match to Cantlay, was seen on video footage yelling at Jim “Bones’’ Mackay, who caddies for Justin Thomas and is one of LaCava’s best friends.
“This can’t happen,’’ McIlroy was seen yelling. “It’s a f–king disgrace.’’
According to an NBC Sports report Sunday, LaCava and McIlroy met before the singles matches began to clear the air.
But McIlroy, fresh off his singles victory over Sam Burns, disputed that report.
“I haven’t met Joe,’’ McIlroy said.
Asked to “clear up what took place’’ Saturday night, McIlroy repeated, “I haven’t met Joe.”
LaCava, after Cantlay defeated Justin Rose Sunday, politely told reporters he was instructed by U.S. team captain Zach Johnson not to speak about the incident.
“Zach asked us not to talk to anyone, so I’m doing what the captain wants,’’ LcCava said as he walked off the 17th green following Cantlay’s 2-and-1 win over Rose. “It’s a fair question and I know you guys (reporters) want to know, but right now he said, ‘Don’t talk,’ and I’ve got to respect that as the captain. I’m just doing what he asked me to do. He’s our captain.’’
McIlroy called himself “focused’’ entering his singles match after what had taken place late Saturday.
“I let it fuel me,” he said. “I didn’t let it take way from what’s been a fantastic week. I used that little incident last night to my advantage.”