You might notice his hat and think of him as Hattrick Cantrey.
One of the notable moments from the 2023 Ryder Cup occurred when American golfer Patrick Cantrey donned a Team USA hat, a rare sight for him compared to two years ago in Rome.
Cantrey chuckled when the discussion turned to his hat.
“As I’ve mentioned countless times, the hat didn’t stick around long. [During the Ryder Cup] we ensured we collaborated with them this year,” he remarked.
He had a somewhat contentious presence at Marco Simone, where European fans even mocked him for the hat situation.
Meanwhile, Americans pushed back against any rumors suggesting protests disrupted the team locker room atmosphere.
The “Hatgate” saga continued to surface even two years later. Following an announcement in December regarding the PGA of America’s involvement, the debate around whether players should get paid—yielding $300,000 for charity—gained traction.
Cantrey distanced himself from any claims about Team USA’s financial decisions, attributing it to the “PGA of America’s choice.” The 33-year-old from Long Beach, California, stated he channels his earnings into his own charity.
This year’s Ryder Cup sparked discussions about American players receiving payment for participation, drawing comparisons to European attitudes towards the event.
Cantrey asserted that he and his teammates are “100% focused on delivering their best golf.”
“This event certainly creates a lot of buzz, but that doesn’t necessarily help us score points,” Cantrey commented. “Our priority needs to be on playing great golf and recognizing the noise for what it is.”
“This week, we’re playing for something greater than ourselves,” he concluded. “We’re representing our team and our country.”
