LaCava vows no aggravation as Ryder Cup style heats up in New York

Joe LaCava, the bagman for Patrick Cantlay, said he plans to avoid any aggravation as this year’s Ryder Cup opens Friday at Bethpage Black in New York. The comments come amid heightened expectations for a tense, high-stakes week after the tumult surrounding the 2023 event at Marco Simone in Rome and the enduring tension between fans, players and caddies. LaCava indicated that while rivalries will inevitably surface, he and Cantlay intend to keep focus on competitive golf and let the golf speak for itself.

LaCava recalled the sequence two years ago that helped shape the narrative of the 2023 Ryder Cup. In Rome, his celebration on the 18th green after Cantlay and Matt Fitzpatrick squared their match against Rory McIlroy and Wyndham Clark touched off McIlroy’s indignation in the Marco Simone car park. The scene culminated in a confrontation that also involved Jim Mackay, then a Team United States caddie, and left McIlroy publicly criticizing LaCava. Those events helped frame a week that ended with rampant fan attention surrounding the U.S. team’s performance and the dynamics among players and support staff.

Speaking to Daily Mail Sport after nine holes of practice on Monday, LaCava said: “You know, they throw the names out there and chances are we’ll play Rory at some point because there’s four or five matches. Maybe it’ll happen. But, you know, we don’t need any of that aggravation. We just want good competition, both guys to play well.” The comment underscored a mutual understanding that the week will feature multiple potential head-to-heads, with McIlroy and Cantlay likely to cross paths in various formats across the four days of play.

The 2025 Ryder Cup is being staged in New York, where a large and vocal crowd is expected. LaCava acknowledged that the atmosphere could be charged, given the home-team momentum and a field eager to perform. The United States’ decision to compensate players more aggressively has added a financial backdrop to the competition, a point of discussion among fans and pundits alike. Reports cited by LaCava and other sources describe a payoff structure of roughly $500,000 to each player, a detail that has stirred debate about incentives and focus during the matches. While Cantlay’s team has received attention for this policy shift, LaCava emphasized that the priority remains competition and fair play on the course rather than controversy off it.

LaCava also touched on the potential for familiar contrasts, noting that Cantlay could be a focal point for traveling European fans and media alike if matchups arise with McIlroy or other prominent European players. He described the week as “feisty,” a characterization he believed fits the mood of a New York audience that tends to celebrate winners with enthusiasm while also embracing the drama that comes with a Ryder Cup clash. “We’re looking forward to the week for sure. I’m in Connecticut, so it’s kind of a home game for me. I have a lot of friends and family coming out. It’s a little extra special,” he said. “Feisty is a good way of putting it. The atmosphere, the guys will be pumped up. They love a winner here in New York. New York hasn’t had many winners lately, so there’s probably a lot of pent-up frustration. They’re ready to go a little crazy and have a good time.”