An incensed Rory McIlroy confronted an innocent American caddie after a bizarre run-in with another during the Ryder Cup.
It was during day three of the four-day tournament at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club when the legendary Northern Irishman was mocked by Patrick Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, on the 18th green.
After Team USA's Cantlay putted in for birdie, LaCava celebrated by swirling his cap to the crowd and strutting around the green.
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But he was in the path of McIlroy, who was still lining his putt up to finish the round.
McIlroy was seen asking LaCava to step back, and when the Team Europe veteran went to his ball the rival caddie bizarrely moved closer to McIlroy, then waved toward him in a confrontational manner.
McIlroy confronted LaCava after his putt, and European teammate Shane Lowry was seen breaking up the brouhaha before players and caddies walked off.
"I don't feel like I was afforded the same opportunity to make a putt as Patrick was. I was trying to do the right thing and that was definitely the wrong thing to do," McIlroy said later of the incident.
"That's not the way this game should be played. Not by a player, caddie, anybody. I thought it was completely disrespectful. It's the angriest I've been in a long time.
"I said it to the US guys, I thought what went on was disgraceful. I made that clear."
McIlroy later revealed Lowry had to stop him from going into the USA changerooms after the day's play.
But when he left the venue, the first American that McIlroy ran into was a different caddie, Jim 'Bones' McKay.
McIlroy approached McKay in the carpark and unleashed a tirade at the American, before again being pulled away by Lowry and getting into a vehicle.
"The first American I saw was Bones and I know he is close to Joe so I sort of let him have a mouthful," McIlroy later explained.
"I texted Bones this morning. He was the first American I saw after I got out of the locker room so he was the one that took the brunt of it.
"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
McIlroy ended up guiding Europe to victory over USA in Rome, and he credited the LaCava incident in part.
"I needed to calm myself down because I could have let it bring me down the wrong path but I didn't. I made sure it focused me," he said.
An incensed Rory McIlroy confronted an innocent American caddie after a bizarre run-in with another during the Ryder Cup.
It was during day three of the four-day tournament at the Marco Simone Golf and Country Club when the legendary Northern Irishman was mocked by Patrick Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, on the 18th green.
After Team USA's Cantlay putted in for birdie, LaCava celebrated by swirling his cap to the crowd and strutting around the green.
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READ MORE: 'Get us out of here': Cleary's hilarious 6am interview
READ MORE: Walters' devastating admission after late capitulation
But he was in the path of McIlroy, who was still lining his putt up to finish the round.
McIlroy was seen asking LaCava to step back, and when the Team Europe veteran went to his ball the rival caddie bizarrely moved closer to McIlroy, then waved toward him in a confrontational manner.
McIlroy confronted LaCava after his putt, and European teammate Shane Lowry was seen breaking up the brouhaha before players and caddies walked off.
"I don't feel like I was afforded the same opportunity to make a putt as Patrick was. I was trying to do the right thing and that was definitely the wrong thing to do," McIlroy said later of the incident.
"That's not the way this game should be played. Not by a player, caddie, anybody. I thought it was completely disrespectful. It's the angriest I've been in a long time.
"I said it to the US guys, I thought what went on was disgraceful. I made that clear."
McIlroy later revealed Lowry had to stop him from going into the USA changerooms after the day's play.
But when he left the venue, the first American that McIlroy ran into was a different caddie, Jim 'Bones' McKay.
McIlroy approached McKay in the carpark and unleashed a tirade at the American, before again being pulled away by Lowry and getting into a vehicle.
"The first American I saw was Bones and I know he is close to Joe so I sort of let him have a mouthful," McIlroy later explained.
"I texted Bones this morning. He was the first American I saw after I got out of the locker room so he was the one that took the brunt of it.
"He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time."
McIlroy ended up guiding Europe to victory over USA in Rome, and he credited the LaCava incident in part.
"I needed to calm myself down because I could have let it bring me down the wrong path but I didn't. I made sure it focused me," he said.
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