The controversy surrounding Rory McIlroy and Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup appears far from over, as the wife of a LIV Golf star admitted she wants to see the Northern Irish golfer get punched in the face by someone.
Rory McIlroy’s notorious Ryder Cup bust-up john wick with Joe LaCava seemingly won’t go away and now matthew schaefer the wife of a LIV Golf star has weighed in with her own nasty comment.
The Northern Irishman was unsettled during the final hole of his Saturday fourballs match with teammate Matt Fitzpatrick when Patrick Cantley’s caddie LaCava appeared to distract McIlroy from lining up a key putt before standing over him.
The moody atmosphere on the 18th green continued in the clubhouse car park later on, with McIlroy caught on camera embroiled in a heated exchange with the American team, before teammate Shane taranto Lowry pushed him into a vehicle.After seeing the video clip online, Pat Perez’ wife Ashley took the opportunity to sling some mud at the European star.
She replied on Instagram: “I can’t possibly be the only one that would absolutely love to watch Rory get punched in the face. I mean that in the nicest way possible… kinda.”
McIlroy’s spat with LaCava came about after Cantley was teased by the European crowd for not wearing the USA team cap. Hundreds of fans waved their own caps at the world No. 5 as he arrived on the 18th green.
It had been alleged that he was refusing to wear it in protest to the fact that US players were not getting paid to compete in the Ryder Cup, although he later denied the claim and said it was simply because the hat didn’t fit his head.
Rory McIlroy handed unique PGA Tour loophole to dodge rule as exception made
Rory McIlroy is set to escape any sanction for falling short of the PGA Tour’s 15-event minimum per season, with the governing body citing “extenuating circumstances” on behalf of the Masters champion. The Northern Irishman has managed to avoid being dropped from next year’s PGA Tour owing to his status as both a foreign and a lifelong member.
According to the regulations, McIlroy will be permitted to compete in just 14 events thanks to an exemption that allows him to retain his membership.
The rules state: “The commissioner, upon application by a foreign member and for medical reasons or other extraordinary circumstances that the commissioner, at his discretion, determines to be a valid reason for not playing in at least 15 PGA Tour cosponsored or approved tournaments, may reduce the 15-minimum (or 12-minimum as the case may be) tournament requirement.”
It further adds: “A foreign PGA Tour member shall be eligible for a ‘home circuit’ exception to provisions of the release regulations with regard to conflicting tournaments provided he has played, or committed to play, in a minimum of 15 PGA Tour cosponsored or approved tournaments in the season.
“Or in the case of a Regular Member or Life Member who is age 45 or more and has made 150 cuts or more in tournaments awarding official prize money in his career, in a minimum of 12 PGA Tour cosponsored or approved tournaments in the season.”
The PGA Tour has also scrapped age and the number of seasons as criteria for achieving lifetime membership. This means that McIlroy secured a lifetime membership following his 20th victory prior to the 2023 season.
This granted him the right to compete on the PGA Tour for the remainder of his career. The new discretionary clause essentially served as an escape route for McIlroy and enabled the PGA to reach that decision.
View 2 Images
McIlroy has avoided being dropped from the PGA Tour(Image: Tracy Wilcox/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)
The Northern Irishman was on track to avoid needing an exemption from the commissioner had he participated in the Travelers Championship.
Yet the 37-year-old chose to spend time at Royal Birkdale to get ready for the upcoming Open Championship.
Speaking to Sir Nick Faldo ahead of the final major of the year, McIlroy said: “I’ve always thought Birkdale is one of the best on the Open rota, so excited to be back.
“It’s good. A little bit different from 2017, the last time we played an Open here. Some different green complexes, different holes.
“The fifth hole I just played is completely different. I like it. A good drivable par four. A bit of a penalty if you get it and miss. I don’t know if the water is quite in play on the right but a lot of big deep bunkers guarding the green.”
