Rory McIlroy Recalls Saying Patrick Cantlay Is a 'D--k' in Joe LaCava-Ryder Cup Video

Rory McIlroy and the caddie for Patrick Cantlay, Joe LaCava, had a bit of an exchange during September's Ryder Cup, when McIlroy didn't appreciate LaCava waving his hat while he was getting ready to putt.

McIlroy's frustrations spilled into the parking lot:

On Monday, McIlroy offered more insight into his thoughts on Cantlay in general.

"Here's what angered me," he told Paul Kimmage of the Irish Independent. "My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don't have a ton in common and see the world quite differently."

He said that Brooks Koepka's caddie, Ricky Elliott, and Koepka's swing coach, Claude Harmon III, tried to calm him down in the parking lot, to no avail. He told both he didn't have a high opinion of Cantlay.

"And they're trying to defuse the situation, but I start having a go at them," he continued. "'Joe LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger, and now he's caddying for that d--k he's turned into a...' I still wasn't in a great headspace."

LaCava's gesture seemed to come in response to European fans giving Cantlay a hard time about not wearing his United States team hat during the Ryder Cup, which reportedly was a protest against not being paid for the event.

The caddie told Mark Cannizzaro of the New York Post at the time that he was "just having a little fun and wanted to wave my cap."

But McIlroy felt that LaCava was in his line of sight and was being disrespectful by not moving.

"I talked to Rory. He politely asked Joe to move aside. He was in his line of vision," European captain Luke Donald told Cannizzaro back in September. "He stood there and didn't move for a while and continued to wave the hat, so I think Rory was upset about that. I understand that. Obviously, Rory felt like the line was crossed on the 18th green."

McIlroy had the last laugh, as Europe went on to win the Ryder Cup over the United States, 16.5-11.5. The outcome had never really been in doubt after Europe raced to a massive lead after the first day.

That didn't mean the emotions weren't high in the days to follow, however, as witnessed by McIlroy's row with LaCava and Cantlay.