US team vice-captain Fred Couples questioned whether Rory McIlroy was disrespectful in his interaction with Bones at the 2023 Ryder Cup.
Rory McIlroy was “disrespectful” during the furious parking crisis at the 2023 Ryder Cup, according to Team USA vice-captain Fred Couples.
The couple is never shy about giving his opinion and in comments on Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio, he accused the Ulsterman of “using words that shouldn’t be said” in front of Jim “Bones” Mackay’s wife .
Bones worked for decades, most notably with Phil Mickelson, before carrying the bag for McIlroy’s good friend Justin Thomas.
The looper came into McIlroy’s sights at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club after the Northern Irishman became frustrated by the antics of Patrick Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava.
LIV Golf WAG “would absolutely love to watch Rory McIlroy get punched in face”
LaCava and Team USA were going wild
after Cantlay’s brilliant birdie on the final hole of an exciting four-ball contest between McIlroy, Matthew Fitzpatrick and Wyndham Clark.
For his part, McIlroy said it was “the angriest I’ve ever felt in my career” and fired 24 hours later, putting a vital point on the board as Luke Donald’s European team beat the United States. Ky with a score of 16.5 to 11.5.
Couples told the station:
“He was speaking disrespectfully to Bones by yelling at him while his wife was speaking inappropriate words just a foot away. Now that I love Rory McIlroy so much, I’m also on his side. However, you’re going to say things when you’re enraged and ready to fight. That’s disrespectful, right?
Couples claimed that he discussed the incident in which the caddie told McIlroy to “relax” when he was asked to move with LaCava.
I want someone to tell me where anything that happened was disrespectful, he continued. I missed seeing it. Patrick tipped his fake cap and screamed, which is something he doesn’t do very often. All of us were standing in front of the green. Nothing changed. We simply removed our hats and made
“On the green, Joe LaCava was present. He didn’t seem to move even a foot. When he made that hand motion, people assumed he was shushing Rory.
Little Harry Diamond, whom we all adore, caddies for Rory before adding his two cents. I don’t have time for you, Joe declared.
“Joe then turned to exit the situation. Additionally, Thomas Bjorn and Shane Lowry were screaming at him, which was acceptable. I have no issues with Thomas Bjorn or Shane Lowry because they are defending their team’s star player. But no one acted improperly.
“He [LaCava] didn’t bump into him [McIlroy]. He didn’t stand over him. It wouldn’t be a 15-yard penalty in college football for taunting. He said he was six feet from him. Was Joe right? Probably not. Did anyone disrespect the European team?”
McIlroy denied having reconciled with LaCava via text or in person in the immediate aftermath of his singles victory over Sam Burns, despite reports to the contrary.
Time will heal that, he said.
LaCava said he was told by US skipper Zach Johnson not to talk to the media about their exchange.