For Rory McIlroy to finally end his major championship drought at the U.S. Open on Sunday at Pinehurst II, he’ll have to beat his nemesis from last year’s Ryder Cup.
McIlroy, seeking his first major championship since the 2014 PGA Championship, will be paired with Patrick Cantlay, with whom he competed in a fierce battle at last fall’s Ryder Cup in Paris, where Europe was victorious.
The penultimate pairing, McIlroy and Cantlay, enter the final round at 4 under par, three strokes behind third-round leader Bryson DeChambeau.
The feud dates back to McIlroy, who was paired with Matt Fitzpatrick, losing 1-1 to Cantlay and Clark in Saturday’s Ryder Cup match.
Cantlay, who campaigned against wearing hats during the Ryder Cup, sank a big birdie putt and his caddie, Joe LaCava, celebrated by waving his hat in joy, irritating McIlroy as he prepared to putt.
McIlroy, who had been arguing with Lucava on the 18th green, angrily chased Lucava through the parking lot immediately after the match. He was caught by chance on the Golf Channel camera..
In an interview a few months after Europe won the Ryder Cup, McIlroy called Cantlay “bad” and had nothing but praise for Lukaba.
“That’s what pissed me off,” McIlroy said. In an interview with the Irish Independent“My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don’t have much in common and we have very different views on the world.”
Footage of the incident in the car park went viral and showed McIlroy passing several Americans, including Justin Thomas’ caddie Jim “Bones” MacKay, before being restrained by teammate Shane Lowry.
“They were trying to calm the situation down and I started attacking them,” McIlroy said. “‘Joe LaCava was a good guy when he caddied for Tiger and now he’s caddiing for that son of a bitch. … I still wasn’t feeling good.'”
While the rivalry may be an intriguing backstory for many golf fans, the 35-year-old McIlroy is intent on ending his decade-long streak without a major championship win.
Before it was known that McIlroy would be paired with Cantlay as he seeks his fifth major championship, he spoke about his latest chance to end his major winless streak.
“Going into the final day of the LACC, it’s pretty much the same situation as it was last year,” McIlroy told reporters Saturday, referring to his loss to Wyndham Clark in last year’s U.S. Open. “I’ve been in this situation a lot of times before, but hopefully I can play the golf I need to go further tomorrow, no matter what happens… [whether I’m trailing by] Two shots, three shots, four shots. We have a great chance tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old Cantlay is still searching for his first career major victory and will try to maintain patience on the course in Sunday’s crucial fourth round.
“I think it’s just a matter of patience and discipline,” said Cantlay, an eight-time PGA Tour winner. “I’ve been trying not to hit the ball too much at the flagstick this week, especially when I don’t have my wedge with me, and I’ve been good about that.”
“It’s all about managing the leaves and being smart about it on this golf course, and I feel like I’ve done a good job of that so far, and I’m going to continue that game plan tomorrow.”
Given the difficulties at Pinehurst No. 2, it’s unlikely that the two rivals will have another incident, but it could still make for some interesting TV.
— The Associated Press
