Rory McIlroy has reconciled with Joe LaCava

Rory McIlroy admitted to having reconciled with Joe LaCava after the tumultuous episode on the 18th green during the last Ryder Cup which caused a lot of ink to flow.

The Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy, present in Austin to support the French team Alpine F1, of which he has become one of the shareholders, on the sidelines of the Formula 1 Grand Prix of the United States, declared that the tensions with Joe LaCava, the Tiger Woods’ caddy, were a thing of the past.

In an interview with BBC Sport, McIlroy explained that the heated exchange which began on the 18th green after Patrick Cantlay’s 4-ball putt on Saturday and which continued in the parking lot, had helped him to motivate yourself for your singles match the next day.

Very angry, the world number 2 had to be restrained by Shane Lowry to prevent the situation from degenerating.

But after the Europeans won, McIlroy says Joe LaCava came to the locker room of Luke Donald’s team to ease tensions.

Rory McIlroy, statements

“I still have a great relationship with Joe since he carried Tiger’s bag and that wasn’t going to change. After this incident, I deliberately chose not to talk to anyone so that it would motivate me in my match. My main goal was to make Europe win the Ryder Cup. In my mind, we would sort out our problems next. Sunday evening, Joe came into the locker room, had a drink with us and we talked. It’s okay, we’re all friends now”.

He was born in Holywood, Northern Ireland, where he attended Sullivan Upper School. He belongs to the Holywood Golf Club, where he began his first training sessions followed by Michael Bannon, a coach he has maintained to this day.

McIlroy was part of the winning Junior Ryder Cup team in 2004, while in 2005 he became the youngest winner of both Irish tournaments, the West of Ireland Championship and the Irish Close Championship.

Also in 2005, at the North of Ireland Championship, played at The Royal Portrush, he broke the course record with a 61 at the age of 16, a record still unbeaten in 2019 at The Open Championship, played at The Royal Portrush .

In August 2006 he won the stage played at the Le Betulle Golf Club in Biella, Piedmont, of the European Amateur Championship with a score of 274 shots (65-69-72-68), 3 less than the Englishman Lewton Stephen.

In October 2006 he represented Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy and Amateur World Team Championship.