Donald on Rory McIlroy's FURIOUS (!) Ryder Cup row: "He felt a line was crossed"

ROME - European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald says Tiger Woods' caddie Joe LaCava 'didn't move for a while' when Rory McIlroy was lining up his putt on the 18th green at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club. 

McIlroy was playing in the final match of the afternoon session with Matthew Fitzpatrick against Wyndham Clark and Patrick Cantlay. 

Cantlay came up clutch and sank a huge birdie putt. Team USA players immediately mocked the European crowd, taking off their caps and waving them around. 

The American golfer had reportedly not been wearing a cap as a protest about Ryder Cup players not getting paid. 

For his part Cantlay has said nothing could be further from the truth. The hat doesn't fit and he planned to not wear one all week. 

But Cantlay did refuse to answer the question on whether competitors in the biennial dustup should. 

Cantlay's caddie LaCava is actually on loan from Woods whilst the 15-time major champion recuperates from his latest surgery. 

Live From just showed this angle of LaCava on the 18th green in Rory’s kitchen as he prepared for his birdie putt. Definitely right in Rory’s way. pic.twitter.com/NcBAILHBcJ

— Shane Bacon (@shanebacon) September 30, 2023

LaCava reportedly 'didn't move for a while', according to captain Donald, as the Ulsterman lined up his putt on the 18th green needing either himself or Fitzpatrick to sink a birdie putt to tie the match. 

McIlroy and the Englishman both missed and lead Team USA by five points going into the Sunday singles. 

Donald said:

Video footage from the adjoining car park at the course shows McIlroy absolutely furious. 

It is said McIlroy was saying: "This can't happen! This can't happen! It's a f---ing disgrace." 

Donald continued: 

Ryder Cup 2023 results so far

Friday morning foursomes:

4&3 Rahm / Hatton vs. Scheffler / Burns

4&3 Hovland / Aberg vs. Homa / Harman

2&1 Lowry / Straka vs. Fowler / Morikawa

2&1 McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Schauffele / Cantlay

Friday afternoon fourballs: 

Tied: Hovland / Hatton vs. Thomas / Spieth 

Tied: Rahm / Hovland vs. Scheffler / Kopeka

Tied: Rose / MacIntyre vs. Homa / Clark

5&3 McIlroy / Fitzpatrick vs. Morikawa / Schauffele

Saturday morning foursomes

2&1 McIlroy / Fleetwood vs. Thomas / Spieth

9&7 Hovland / Aberg vs. Scheffler / Koepka

Lowry / Straka vs Homa / Harman / Homa 4&2

2&1 Hatton / Rahm vs. Cantlay / Schauffele

Saturday afternoon fourballs:

Hovland / Aberg vs. Burns / Morikawa 4&3

Fleetwood / Hojgaard vs. Homa / Harman 2&1

3&2 Rose / MacIntyre vs. Thomas / Spieth 

Fitzpatrick / McIlroy vs. Cantlay / Clark 1UP

Read more:

• Report: Hatless Patrick Cantlay causing Team USA rift at Ryder Cup
• Scottie Scheffler reduced to tears after record (!) 9&7 Ryder Cup defeat
• Report: Flag showing support for LIV's Henrik Stenson confiscated at Ryder Cup
• Justin Thomas kicks ball in Ryder Cup match but receives no penalty?!