Tiger Woods breaks silence on Ryder Cup pay row which led to ‘split’ in US team
Patrick Cantlay was at the center of controversy at the Ryder Cup in Rome last September as Tiger Woods addressed reported divisions in the American camp.
Tiger Woods has suffered some setbacks in the US Ryder Cup format after Patrick Cantlay claimed he was “broken” in the dressing room after not receiving his tournament entry fee.
The Americans lost their Ryder Cup crown in Rome last month. The hosts beat their rivals 16.5-11.5 at their home stadium. It’s been a week since Team USA was forgotten, on and off the track, as Zach Johnson’s 12-man squad was “separated” by Cantlay, according to Sky Sports.
Cantlay competed without a cap for three days, part of a score made in protest that he and his teammates were not paid by the PGA of America to represent their country. On the second day of the event, “Cap-gate” quickly rang for Marco Simone as European spectators waved the American’s caps in the air. Woods did not participate in this year’s event as he recovers from an injury suffered at the Masters last April. Six months later, he returned to the Hero World Challenge this week and was asked to comment on the alleged scandal ahead of the tournament. “What happened there, it was the media, it was just noise,” the 82-time PGA Tour winner said. And of course, now everyone has a mobile device and can proliferate. You’re connected – you’re out of place, so someone’s out to get it – every time. It gets into your head and they were going to do it. “I understand perfectly. The feeling. We all want to win. “There’s a home team and an opponent, and if you’re busy, that’s it.” Asked if players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup, Woods said: “It’s not a problem.”
Following the report, Cantlay himself was asked why he refused to wear a helmet in the Roma match. “The hat didn’t fit, Whistle Straits didn’t fit, it didn’t fit this week. Everyone knows that.” He dismissed the rumours, adding: “The first time I heard it was when I left the green.
After the report, Cantlay himself was asked why he refused to wear a headscarf at the Roma match. “The hat didn’t fit, it didn’t fit the Whistle Channel, it didn’t fit this week. Everyone knows that.” He dismissed the rumours, adding: “The first time I heard it was when I left the green.
“This is far from the truth. But when asked if he should be compensated for the competition, he refused to deny it and replied: “That’s not what it’s about.” It’s just about Team USA and representing our country… “That’s all I can say.” Cantlay was supposed to compete against Woods at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas, but the former FedEx Cup champion declined to do so. Friend Xander Schaffele.
