Ryder Cup hat controversy, explained: Patrick Cantlay, Joe LaCava cause waves as USA rallies at Marco Simone

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Bryan Murphy
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Golfers, just like any other athlete, are always looking for something to spark momentum. Whether that's taunts from opposing fans, comments from other competitors, or fuel found within, getting motivation is a key in any sport. 

For Team USA at the Ryder Cup, that motivation was found in the form of a hat. Or rather, the lack of a hat. 

Day 2 had it all — reports of a divided USA locker room, shouting matches on the green, jeers from the European fans and a growing feud between Rory McIlroy and caddie Joe LaCava.

But it was the hat-less Patrick Cantlay that allowed the Americans to find their mojo, and he has given the team life when all things looked bleak. 

Team USA looked dead in the water on Saturday. An awful Day 1 was followed by a putrid start to Day 2, as Team Europe built onto its five-point lead from Friday by securing three of four points in Saturday morning's foursomes, taking a seven-point lead into the four-ball matches in the afternoon. 

That's when the uncovered Cantlay and Team USA rallied, winning three of the four-ball matches and cutting the gap to five points as the competition heads into Sunday's singles. The five-time major winner helped turn the emotions on the American side 180 degrees, as the United States seemingly got into the heads of Europe by the end of action on Saturday, giving a much-needed boost in energy for the defending Ryder Cup champs. 

The Americans still have their work cut out for them. If Team USA wants to retain the Ryder Cup, it will have to pull off the biggest Sunday comeback in Ryder Cup history. Europe only needs four of the available 12 points to secure a win, so while not impossible, it is going to take a full team effort. 

MORE: Ryder Cup scores, standings, results from Day 2 at Marco Simone

All of this is setting up for what may be a dramatic Sunday at Marco Simone. 

Why is Patrick Cantlay not wearing a hat at the Ryder Cup?

One of the more noticeable sights at Marco Simone has been the lack of a hat from Cantlay. 

It's not the first time the 31-year-old has gone bareheaded. Last Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, Cantlay was without a lid for the entire tournament. 

However, his hatless head has raised a stink in 2023 — and may have been the rallying cry the United States needed. 

The issue of the hat first made headlines when Sky Sports News' Jamie Weir reported that the United States locker room was divided, and Cantlay was the root of the issue. According to Weir, Cantlay wasn't wearing his hat out of spite for not being paid at the Ryder Cup, causing the rift among his teammates. 

None of the participants at the Ryder Cup get paid. Instead, they may be given gifts, or money that goes towards a charity of their choice. However, supposedly, Cantlay had taken an exception to this. 

It may strictly have been a coincidence, but the Americans finally started to turn the tide right after Weir publicized the divided locker room rumor. 

At first, it gave the European fans bulletin board material for Cantlay and the Americans. The crowd at Marco Simone began taking shots at Cantlay and his hatless head, as well as tying in the claim that he wasn't donning one due to the lack of pay. 

However, as Cantlay and the rest of Team USA began to shift momentum during the final holes of the round, the Americans did not waste the chance to throw it back at their haters' faces. 

So was the lack of pay really the reason why Cantlay wasn't wearing a USA hat? Not according to the Long Beach native. 

MORE: Ryder Cup standings, results and leaderboard

Cantlay cleared up the confusion on his lack of a hat after his four-ball round, giving a fairly simple reason as to why he wasn't wearing one. 

Patrick Cantlay settles "Hat Gate" once and for all.
(via NBC) pic.twitter.com/2qBUcySIWB

— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) September 30, 2023

"It just doesn't fit, " Cantlay answered when asked why he wasn't wearing a hat. "It's as simple as that. I didn't wear it at Whistling Straits because the hat just doesn't fit, so that's really all it is."

If that is the reason, it begs the question where Weir got his tip that the locker room was divided due to Cantlay's refusal to wear a hat. Because it may have backfired on the Europeans. 

Who is Joe LaCava?

LaCava is Cantlay's newest caddie. The longtime caddie for Tiger Woods joined Cantlay full-time on the bag earlier this year. 

The 68-year-old made headlines at the end of Day 2 when he was seen getting into a shouting match with Rory McIlroy and other members of Team Europe. McIlroy and the Europeans took exception to how close the caddy was getting to McIlroy as he was trying to line up a putt on the 18th hole. 

It didn't stop on the course. McIlroy remained enraged with LaCava's behavior on the green, and the Northern Irishman confronted Cantlay's caddie outside the country club. 

MORE: Check out the full rundown of players competing for Team USA and Team Europe

The Ryder Cup is as intense of a golf tournament as you will find. Considering the game is mostly an individual sport, it's rare that these players get to join together as a team and go head-to-head in groups. 

However, that is the beauty of the competition, and the intensity likely will not stop on Sunday. The Americans are in need of an epic performance to pull off a win, and emotions will certainly be running at an all-time high. 

Even better, Cantlay is set to tee off at 5:59 a.m. ET tomorrow in his singles match against Justin Rose. Guess who's in the pairing right behind him? McIlroy, going against Sam Burns. 

Buckle up folk. It's about to be a spicy Sunday in Italy. 

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Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy is an NHL content producer at The Sporting News.

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