Netflix documentary Full Swing captured the expletive-laden row between Shane Lowry and Joe LaCava at the Ryder Cup.
Europe’s victory in Rome was briefly marred by ugly scenes on Saturday night after Patrick Cantlay inspired Team USA to an unlikely point against Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick.
Cantlay’s caddie, LaCava, infuriated the Europeans by celebrating the winning putt too close to McIlroy, who still had a chance to tie the match.
It led to a furious outburst from McIlroy in the car park outside Marco Simone, with teammate Lowry forced to bundle him into a car.
Lowry, himself, was at the centre of the row on the 18th green, screaming at LaCava from inside the ropes.
Netflix microphones pick up the Irishman shouting: “Hey Joe, get out of the way, you p****.”
Cameras then pan to Lowry wildly gesticulating and telling the caddie to ‘f*** off’.
In response, LaCava appears to turn to Lowry and say: “Shut the f*** up.”
Cantlay had been mocked by the crowd in Rome after reports claimed he was refusing to wear a USA hat out of protest over lack of pay at the Ryder Cup.
After his heroics on Saturday afternoon, his teammates and the caddies waved their hats back at the crowd.
When the match concluded, Lowry confronted LaCava and told him Europe were subjected to the same levels of abuse at the 2021 Ryder Cup in Wisconsin.
The Europe star said: “Joe, you were on top of him when he was putting.
“We were in Whistling Straits as well, OK? You get it when you’re here. We get it when we’re there.
“OK? It’s just all fun and games. Because that’s the way it is.”
LaCava responded: “I just wanted to celebrate, though.”
And Lowry added: “I was in Whistling Straits two years ago, so let’s just leave it at that, and we’ll see you tomorrow.”
At that point, European veteran Justin Rose stepped in and tried to diffuse the situation.
Rose said: “Joe, it was a nice touch. It was actually quite funny. But it just went on a touch too long. That’s it.”
LaCava replied: “You’re right. I already told Rory that. It’s all good.”
Lowry is later heard telling a teammate: “That’s bull****. He was on top of Rory.”
But the drama did not end there.
USA assistant captain Fred Couples has previously claimed an enraged McIlroy was venting towards Brooks Koepka’s Northern Irish caddie Ricky Elliott back at the team hotel.
Indeed, Europe were raging deep into Saturday night – and it appears assistant captain Thomas Bjorn was among the angriest of the lot.
The Dane, who guided Europe to Ryder Cup glory in 2018, can be heard saying ‘just leave him the f*** alone’ as the players confronted LaCava behind the 18th green.
And then, as the golfers make their way towards the clubhouse, Bjorn tells Tommy Fleetwood: “They’re gonna f***ing feel it tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, USA star Max Homa joked that he thought the situation would end up in a fight.
Homa told Netflix: “What Patrick did during those last few holes was some of the most impressive stuff I’ve ever seen.
“It was sick. And then I thought we were going to get in a fight. So everybody was like… Testosterone was at an all-time high.”
The second season of Full Swing, which was released on Wednesday, offers never-seen-before access to the Ryder Cup.
Cameras went inside the players’ homes as captains Zach Johnson and Luke Donald made their picks, with joy for Rose and heartbreak for Keegan Bradley.
Meanwhile, Netflix also went behind the scenes as shocking news broke of a framework agreement between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf’s backers, the Saudi Public Investment Fund, capturing the stunned reaction of McIlroy and others.
The TV giants also follow the outspoken world No.2 closely on his unsuccessful quest to end his decade-long major drought.
News Summary:
- ‘You p****’ – Furious Shane Lowry and Joe LaCava confrontation at Ryder Cup captured in full by Netflix cameras
- Check all news and articles from the latest Golf updates.