The truth about ‘HatGate’ has finally surfaced thanks to Michael Bamberger’s report with Fire Pit Collective, detailing an exchange between Patrick Cantlay and Steve Sands on the first tee box at Marco Simone on Friday.
Bamberger writes in his article ‘The Truth About Hatgate Finally Comes Out’ that Sands, a veteran NBC Sports reporter and interviewer who ‘enjoys a good rapport and casual ease’ with PGA Tour players, questioned Cantlay on his hatless appearance.
The 31-year-old, an eight-time winner on the Tour replied:
“I’ll wear a hat when I’m paid to be here like he is,” motioning in the direction of Julius Mason – a PGA of America PR executive who was standing nearby.
The drama escalated during the afternoon session on Saturday when the crowd had got wind of a tweet from Sky Sports reporter Jamie Weir, who wrote:
“Understand from several sources that the US team room is fractured, a split led predominantly by Patrick Cantlay.
“Cantlay believes players should be paid to participate in the Ryder Cup, and is demonstrating his frustration at not being paid by refusing to wear a team cap.”
The player tried his best in the media to downplay the narrative by suggesting the hat simply didn’t fit and said any reports of a fractured locker room were “totally unfounded, complete lies.”
Patrick Cantlay settles “Hat Gate” once and for all.
(via NBC) pic.twitter.com/2qBUcySIWB— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) September 30, 2023
RELATED: 2025 Ryder Cup Odds: Europe 7/4 Second Favourites To Defend Title In USA
The European fans had their fun with the American by waving their hats around but it was Cantlay who had the last laugh on the day by sinking a 43ft birdie putt to win his fourball match alongside Wyndham Clark against Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
This then sparked further chaos on the 18th green as Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava appeared to continue waving his hat for an extended period of time and standing in McIlroy’s line of vision as he prepared for a putt to tie the match.
Team Europe were not best pleased by LaCava’s actions and Shane Lowry was seen getting into it with him, before it all spilled out into the car park with McIlroy being held back and forced into a car.
The hosts came out on top with a 16.5-11.5 victory to mark their seventh straight triumph at home and they’ll defend their title on the road at Bethpage Black in New York in September 2025.
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