SAINT PATRICK
USA praying for a last-day miracle... & Cantlay’s final-hole win over talisman Mcilroy has given them hope in Rome
US players and fans took their hats off to Patrick Cantlay after the world No.5 got a first Roman defeat on Rory Mcilroy amid mad Brookline-style scenes.
Cantlay nailed crucial putts on the last three holes to end the Ulsterman’s perfect start to this Ryder Cup – and finally give the US hope in their search of a final-day Italian renaissance.
Even with Europe needing only four points to claim back the trophy, today promises to be tasty after Cantlay’s caddie Joe Lacava clashed with Mcilroy over the bagman’s cap-lifting celebrations on the final green.
Shane Lowry and Justin Rose then joined the flashpoint on the 18th before the four-time Major winner was later bundled into a car in the the Ryder Cup’s latest historic acrimony.
Cantlay has not worn the US baseball cap all week – even for the official team photo – leading to claims he was in dispute with the PGA of America.
The American stated: “The hat doesn’t fit.
“It didn’t fit at Whistling Straits, and didn’t fit this week. Everyone knows that.”
But European fans started to mock Cantlay by doffing their caps to him on every tee and fairway.
The US team responded by doing the same in support as both teams gathered for the tense final match left on the course in the late afternoon sun. The European pairing of Mcilroy and Matt Fitzpatrick went one hole up against Cantlay and US Open champion Wyndham Clark on the 14th when Mcilroy smashed his drive 375 yards on his way to birdie.
Cantlay’s heroics kept the match alive on 16 and 17 before his 43-foot birdie putt dropped – and Lacava celebrated by lifting off his cap on green to the fury of Mcilroy before his putt.
It was reminiscent of the American invading the 17th at Brookline in 1999 before Jose Maria Olazabal’s putt against Justin Leonard.
NBC reported Lacava saying: “We were getting our butts kicked – I am going to celebrate.”
After his final putt, Cantlay reacted by mockingly lifting his cap to the
crowd. “I’ve never had so many standing ovations going to tee boxes and greens,” he claimed. “I thought it was fantastic.
“I told Wyndham when we were going to the first tee today that we were going to use all the energy out there as fuel, and we did.
“I tried to enjoy it all day. Tried to use it as energy, and like I said, I think we did that.”
The build-up to the 1999 Ryder Cup was overshadowed by US players wanting to be paid to play for their country – and shop steward Mark O’meara never got to be the USA captain.
Asked if players should be paid, Cantlay said: “It’s not about that. It’s just about Team USA and representing our country. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.” Mcilroy had won his first three matches here to take his Ryder Cup points total to 17 in seven appearances – above Ian Poulter and Ian Woosnam and level with Tony Jacklin in eighth place on the all-time European list.
Sergio Garcia holds the record with 28.5 points.
Cantlay’s late Saturday surge was reminiscent of Ian Poulter’s late Saturday afternoon magic partnering Mcilroy in 2012 when he dragged the score to 10-6 before the Miracle in Medinah.
The USA came back from the same score in Brookline but no team has ever won when trailing 10.5-5.5 going into the final day.
But the American world No.5 insisted: “We’ve been on a mission all week. We are going to be on a mission tomorrow.”