Ever questioned the inner workings of the professional golf industry? The friendships and rivalries and afterparties that aren’t featured on the highlight reels? Viktor Hovland is one player who has witnessed it all. The Norwegian golfer, who became the first person from his nation to win on both the PGA and European Tours, has swept the golf world by storm since going pro in 2019. His greatest achievement was winning the FedEx Cup in 2023, which cemented his place among the best in golf.

McIlroy’s Beef with Cantlay Revealed by PGA Tour Star Viktor Hovland 

In an open discussion, Viktor Hovland addressed the continuing conflict from the 2023 Ryder Cup, including the dispute between Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy. In an interview with Buffalo Trace’s “Life On Tour,” Hovland described the mood after the fierce competition. He stated, “The afterparty was great, yeah,” in reference to the celebrations that followed the competition. “I would say like whistling straits was tough, but we had a great afterparty regardless. I haven’t played that many Ryder Cups, but it seems like usually the American team comes into our team room. The whole American team wasn’t there in Rome, so we actually had a great time,” he stated.

Hovland’s remarks suggest that the usual friendship that accompanies the Ryder Cup may not be the case. To appreciate the spirit of the game together, players from both sides typically put aside personal rivalries on the course. The American squad’s absence from the European team room in Rome, however, raised the possibility that the animosity between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay may have lasted a long time and interfered with the customary camaraderie that follows a game.

Patrick Cantlay vs. Rory McIlroy beef history explained!

The Saturday fourballs were the tipping moment for the situation. Joe LaCava, Cantlay’s caddie, celebrated by waving his cap close to McIlroy, who was lining up his own putt on the 18th green, following Cantlay’s crucial birdie putt. McIlroy and LaCava got into a heated argument because he thought this was a serious violation of golf etiquette. The altercation continued into the parking lot, where McIlroy was observed making angry gestures and needed to be restrained by colleagues. Following the incident, McIlroy called his connection with Cantlay “average at best” and used disparaging language about him. Cantlay, on the other hand, minimized the event, claiming that McIlroy’s remarks were misconstrued and stressing that there was no lingering animosity.