Even though Rory McIlroy played a big part in the 2025 Ryder Cup, his rivalry with Patrick Cantlay from Rome didn’t really resurface in any meaningful way.
Cantlay was cast as the villain at Marco Simone, with talk of tension inside the US team room swirling around him. The whole thing boiled over on Saturday evening when Shane Lowry had to pull McIlroy away after an argument with Cantlay’s caddie, Joe LaCava.
This time around, it was a tough week for Cantlay at Bethpage. He ended up being the only American to lose his singles match as Europe just about held on to win back-to-back Ryder Cups.
The two did cross paths on course. Their Friday afternoon fourballs match finished all square, with McIlroy and Lowry halving against Cantlay and Sam Burns.
And it appears that during their matchup, McIlroy took a bit of a shot at Cantlay when he hit him with this line: “Sorry Sam – that’s my fault. I’m giving you Patrick 25 feet there. That was my bad.”
Patrick Cantlay backed by PGA Tour Pro after Rory McIlroy mimicry video surfaces
A video has surfaced of the Northern Irishman mimicking Cantlay’s walk just before a tee shot.
Cantlay has developed a reputation as one of the slower players on tour, taking a measured and deliberate approach. It seems McIlroy couldn’t resist having a bit of fun with how much time Cantlay spends over his shots.
Patrick Cantlay’s Presidents Cup spot may not be guaranteed
Going into the 2026 season, Cantlay has something to prove. After his showing in Italy in 2023 and again during the darkness on Saturday evening at the following year’s Presidents Cup, his spot on Keegan Bradley’s team never seemed in doubt.
But he was nowhere to be seen in New York. Despite playing all five matches, he managed just 1.5 points for the Americans.
That also highlights another issue: Cantlay hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since 2022, and he missed three major cuts in 2025.
If he doesn’t earn an automatic place later this year, it may make sense for Brandt Snedeker to choose a less established player who could benefit from the experience ahead of Adare Manor in 2027.
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