Ryder Cup Live: Rory McIlroy set to return to action after clashing with Patrick Cantlay’s caddie as Team Europe look to seal victory

Sunday is singles day at the Ryder Cup but there won’t be any matchmaking going on between the two competing rivals in Rome.

Action will get underway at 11.35am when reigning Masters champion Jon Rahm steps out to tee off, with McIlroy following around 40 minutes later.

1 up Jon Rahm vs Scottie Scheffler

Viktor Hovland vs Collin Morikawa – TIED

Justin Rose vs Patrick Cantlay – TIED

12.11 PM – Rory McIlroy vs Sam Burns

12.23 PM – Matt Fitzpatrick vs Max Homa

12.35 PM – Tyrrell Hatton vs Brian Harman

12.47 PM – Ludvig Åberg vs Brooks Koepka

12.59 PM – Sepp Straka vs Justin Thomas

13.11 PM – Nicolai Hojgaard vs Xander Schauffele

13.23 PM – Shane Lowry vs Jordan Spieth

13.35 PM – Tommy Fleetwood vs Rickie Fowler

13.47 PM – Robert MacIntyre vs Wyndham Clark

A fantastic shot from Patrick Cantlay – he;s got ice in his veins.

He’s about 30 yards out and winds his shot in for a birdie against Rose on the third.

Meanwhile, Scheffler matches Rahm havling the fourth – tension starting to build!

Huge point for McIlroy!

He wins the first with Burns unable to hole out!

Our fifth match is starting now. And it’s a big one!

It’s Homa to go first and he sends his tee shot down the right into the rough.

He was outstanding yesterday – perhaps the best player in the fourball session winning four holes against Fleetwood and Hojgaard.

But Fitzpatrick one-ups him – he goes straight down the middle with his drive.

Sam Burns hist a fanrtasic bunker shot from out of the bunker on the first.

He’s on in two here and can keep the pressure on McIlroy who goes within a couple of feet from the fringes – looks like they’re both playing for par here but McIlroy has the advantage

Meanwhile on two, Rose is playing from the rough and its a great shot – it lands on the fairway and trickles onto the green. He’s got a way into the hole but he’ll have a good chance for a par here.

Cantlay misses a birdie putt uncharacteristically and Justin Rose makes no mistake in tapping in for par. They’ll halve the first.

Morikawa hits a clutch par putt on two to tkeep him and Viktor Hovland level through two.

Luke Donald has lauded the fast start from his guys after being asked whether they’re pumped up today following yesterday’s controversy.

We are excited for today, a new day. Look at that start from the guys, Jon Rahm birdying the first, Viktor and Rose on the fairways, these guys are ready.

We want to start strong, Jon has been our statistically strongest player, he is a giant in the game we know that. We expect a lot of blue early.I have ultimate confidence in my team from day one, we know what the mission is and want to go and enjoy the day.

This could be the deciding match for Team Europe.

But Burns slices his tee shot. It goes wildly into a group of spectators on the right of the fairway.

Here comes Rory…

He hits a high fade and its spot on.

He’s whacked that over 300 yards and is just behind the bunker on the right of the fairway.

McIlroy paces on out of the tee box and is soaking up the atmosphere of the fans singing ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries.

European fans are singing ‘Zombie’ by the Cranberries at Rory here – a song that has been synonymous with the Irish Rugby team at the World Cup this year.

But instead of signing the word ‘Zombie’ – they’ve replaced it with ‘Rory’!

Good shot from Viktor, and he gets a bit lucky. The grass on the back right keeps his ball from rolling off.

Morikawa on two plays a decent blind approach shot – his approach game in 2021 was phenomenal and it shows. Great effort from where he was.

Scheffler finds the heart of the green on three. But it’s perhaps not his best, the pin is to the left of the green so he’ll have about 40 feet to putt here.

Rahm meanwhile can’t find the green. He’s off the back in the first cut.

Speaking yesterday on the celebrations on the 18th tee that have sparked controversy, Patrick Cantlay admitted he was unaware of any animosity.

He said: ‘I was too busy letting out all the emotion that built up over the day. I didn’t get a good look at it.

When pressed on whether he was not wearing the cap in protest he added: ‘Not at all. This is the first I heard of it right when I got off the green. That’s the furthest thing from the truth.’

He’s letting his golf do the work today too. He’s just hit his approach on the first to within a couple of feet from 160 yards out.

Rose hits the green too, but his accuracy is not as good, he’s about 15 yards off the cup.

It’s squirming away in front of Viktor Hovland on the tee box, but doesn’t put him off – he slams his drive down the middle.

Rahm and Scheffler are teeing off on the 450 yard par 4 third. Scheffler takes an iron and looks like he’s played it well. He’s a couple of yards ahead of Rahm on the fairway but have a difficult lie here, the ball will be below both of their feet.

The European fans have their hats in the air again on the first tee.

Cantlay is going to hit first here.

And it’s a brilliant strike. Straight down the middle!

The American’s picked up where he started yesterday, hitting birdies on 16, 17 and 18.

Rose to go next. He’s been in fine form this week on his return to the Ryder Cup after missing out on Whistling Straits.

Perfect drive. Slap bang in the middle. He’s a few yards back from Cantlay but might have a slightly better angle in here.

Hovland fist pumps the air before strutting off to the second tee box.

It’s all square in this match through 1.

Meanwhile here comes Patrick Cantlay.

Scheffler’s got a bit of momentum here. He’s bit back at Rahm here putting his approach to within a couple of yards for the hole. Advantage America.

Meanwhile, Morikawa has played a stunning approach shot into the green from the left rough – excellent play from him, he’ll have a putt for birdie.

But wait! Hovland’s just put his shot from around 40 feet out to within an inch of the hole! Ah that was agonisingly close!!!

He’ll tap in for par, with Morikawa able to win the first if he can putt out here.

More from the US Team captain now, and Johnson has hit out at the reports that have claimed there’s been a rift in the US Team camp.

Speaking on the claims he said: ‘That is extremely poor journalism unless I know something that’s out there — there is not a rift in this team room. This is one of the most united teams I have ever been associated with.

‘And when it comes to the dollar sign, I don’t mean to sound cliché, but the Ryder Cup is about more than any of that. It’s about standing with a band of guys to represent your nation, to represent more than you in the game of golf.

‘It’s a sport for one week. And you know what, I would say if there’s anything that deals with money, there’s guys that would pay to play in this. So I am not understanding that, and I think that is extremely inaccurate and arguably irresponsible.’

Johnson has also added when asked why Cantlay wasn’t wearing a cap:’ Somebody else mentioned that to me, too. I guess it’s like a social media — is it viral thing right now that he’s not wearing (one)? I don’t think he likes the fit of the hats. I know that. That’s what the facts are. He doesn’t like the fit of the hats. The facts are he didn’t wear a hat two years ago at Whistling Straits. And another fact, some of the stalwarts and legends of the European game that I admire and, frankly, have modelled

Huge putt from 15 feet for the Spaniard and he wins the hole!

That is a massive birdie from the Masters champion.

It’s the dream start for Europe and he looks very determined. Not a massive celebration but he’s looking focused here.

Just remembered this is a rematch of their battle at Whistling Straits.

Scottie Scheffler got the win that day 4 & 3, but Rahm’s in for revenge here!

We can hear shouting in the distance on the first tee.

But it’s Morikawa to go first. He had a good end to his match yesterday alongside Sam Burns, but he pulls his shot left into the spectators! Not a good start.

Hovland’s sent his right down the middle – a brilliant strike.

Some news coming in from the green at the first…

Hes about 30 feet out from the hole and puts his shot short! It needed a little more muscle to get that one in, but its not bad, he has a putt for par here and the pressure is on Rahm to win this hole!

According to NBC, Joe LeCava reportedly reached out to Rory McIlroy last night to apologise and clear the air…

Rahm and Scheffler both on the green here.

The Spaniard gets his a little closer, but Scheffler’s also on for birdie.

In his press conference after Saturday’s play, US Team captain Zach Johnson admitted he didn’t think Joe LeCava over-stepped the line in with his celebrations as Rory McIlroy tried to hit his putt to halve the match.

Speaking on the celebrations he said: ‘Sure. Well, what I saw on 18 was a phenomenal putt and a celebration by some of our guys, and you know, I saw passion and all of what’s great in the Ryder Cup come out.

‘And to my knowledge, based on what I was told, that was diffused after the match, and so I’m told it’s all good. Yeah, that’s really all I know.’

He was asked about LeCava’s actions too, and was pressed particularly on whether he thought his actions were within the spirit of the game: ‘I don’t know about that. I mean, to my knowledge, it was diffused. I spoke with Joe after, and he said he talked to Rory and it was all good. That’s all I know.’

It’s two pretty exceptional tee shots on the first here.

Rahm goes straight down the middle too with a lovely fade.

But I think Scheffler’s got the distance on him here – they’ll have around 1600 yards in to the pin.

Meanwhile, let’s take a look at what the captains said after yesterday’s drama!

Scottie’s gettin plenty of ‘oles’ for his practice swings!

Apparently European fans have been giving him a hard time singing ‘We saw you cry on the telly!’

He steps up and sends his drive right down the middle!

A good response from the world No 1.

We’re ready to go here!

The first tee is a cauldron of noise right now.

Reminder, Europe need four points to win the Ryder cup.

What a match this is going to be!

Rahm v Scheffler – who’s winning this one then?

There is some atmosphere on the first tee right now – WOW.

He’s waving his hat there for a long, long time.

Let me know in the comments whether you think he crossed the line here?

Speaking to Sky Sports on whether players should be paid in the Ryder Cup, Sir Nick Faldo said to Sky Sports: ‘Seve Ballesteros would turn in his grave.’

Paul McGinley added: ‘It’s a shame it’s come to this – this sense of entitlement. The Americans get a pension thanks to the Ryder Cup.’

We’ve got a huge tee time coming up at 11.35 with Masters champion Jon Rahm taking on world No 1 Scottie Scheffler.

Scheffler didn’t have a great day yesterday at all. He and Brooks Koepka were beaten 9 & 7 by Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Aberg.

The American was seen dejected after the match – but will that fuel his fire today against Rahm?

Here’s what our reporters Ollie Holt and Riath Al-Samarrai say, do you agree?

So it’s been claimed that Cantlay is protesting players not being paid at the Ryder Cup and is reportedly not wearing a cap in protest of that.

Players at the Ryder Cup do not play for prize money.

He’s the only player out there not wearing a cap. And it’s worth noting he didn’t wear a cap at Whistling Straits in 2021.

After the match against McIlroy and Fitzpatrick on Saturday, he gave his reasons for not wearing the cap.

‘It just doesn’t fit. It’s as simple as that. I didn’t wear it at Whistling Straits because the hat just doesn’t fit, so that’s really all it is?’

There’s a lot to ingest from what happened on the 18th green last night.

Joe LeCava was shouting and gesticulating with Rory McIlroy as he tried to make a putt to halve the match.

After Patrick Cantlay putted out, LeCava was stood waving his hat and didn’t move out of McIlroy’s way after he was repeatedly asked politely to move by the Northern Irishman.

LeCava used to work alongside Tiger Woods and also helped Freddie Couples take 12 PGA Tour wins. He’s one of the most well-known and experienced caddies in the world.

Mail Sport’s Elizabeth Haigh has all the details below…

Europe 10.5 – 5.5 USA

Europe now need 4 more points to win

Saturday morning fourballs

• 2 & 1 Rory McIlroy & Tommy Fleetwood v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth
• 9 & 7 Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg Scottie Scheffler & Brooks Koepka
• Shane Lowry & Sepp Straka v Max Homa and Brian Harman 4 & 2
• 2 & 1 Jon Rahm & Tyrrell Hatton v Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele

Saturday afternoon foursomes

• Viktor Hovland & Ludvig Aberg v Sam Burns & Collin Morikawa 4 & 3
• Tommy Fleetwood & Nicolai Hojgaard v Max Homa & Brian Harman 2 &1
• 3 & 2 upJustin Rose & Robert MacIntyre v Justin Thomas & Jordan Spieth
• Matt Fitzpartrick & Rory McIlroy v Patrick Cantlay & Wyndham Clark 1up

Will Rory McIlroy be fired up today?

He’s out at 12:11 this morning and takes on Sam Burns, who had a huge day yesterday picking up four holes and a point for his team alongside Collin Morikawa.

This is set to be a huge bout.

Earlier in the day, Sky Sports released a report that Patrick Cantlay wasn’t wearing a hat at the tournament in protest that players weren’t getting paid to play at the Ryder Cup.

It sparked a lot of talk around the course with European fans poking fun at the former FedEx Cup winner, taking their hats off and waving at him while he walked down the 16th fairway.

The report claimed that Cantlay was at the heart of a rift in the US Team. dressing room.

But as he approached the 18th to claim the final match, all the US players took their caps off and hit back at the claims, waving them back at the European fans as Cantlay claimed the final match point with his putt on 18.

There was plenty of drama yesterday at the Ryder Cup on the 18th green.

It was ignited by Patrick Cantlay’s caddie after the American won the final match of Saturday’s fourballs.

It appeared that he had been celebrating excessively in front of Rory McIlroy who was still to hit his putt and was trying to line up his final shot.

McIlroy could have halved the hole, had he nailed the putt.

Here’s the incident on the green…

But Joe LaCava appeared to wave his cap in front of him in celebration, and started speaking to him while McIlroy was trying to read the green before putting out.

It sparked much debate on social media, and on the course! The caddie then turned to the European players on the edge of the green and started to gesticulate with them too – with Shane Lowry acting as the peace keeper.

Tensions boiled over on the 18th, but they spilled over into the car park too after the match – with McIlroy seen in a video angrily yelling at what appeared to be LaCava, with the Northern Irishman also seeming to clash with Justin Thomas’s caddie Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, who was also notably Phil Mickelson’s caddie.

Will last night’s drama fuel the fire in Europe today?

What a week its been! We’re gearing up for a huge day today and the players are in the house!

Europe need FOUR points to win the Ryder Cup.

And Luke Donald looks like he’s gone strong early on with his picks!

But they’ll be met by some big stars on the US team.

RIATH AL-SAMARRAI IN ROME: The finest golfers of the US started the day as a joke and they ended it as a punchline. But hats off to those Americans – they are not giving up this Ryder Cup to Europe without a fight.

If they are to pull it off, and what a sizeable ‘if’ that is, it will require the biggest capitulation this contest has ever seen.

OLIVER HOLT IN ROME: When Rory McIlroy walked down the hill from the 16th tee to the fairway as the shadows lengthened yesterday evening, it felt like one of the great scenes in the emotional hinterland of this competition.

Lines of noble cedars stood like sentries, silhouetted against the fading light and thousands of fans sang McIlroy’s name and waved their caps in the air. It felt as if we had been transported back to the Matthews Cup Final and a golden age of sport.

READ THE FULL STORY BELOW

Rory McIlroy is the talk of the town this morning after his heated exchange with Patrick Cantlay’s caddy last night. He was dragged away from the encounter but has emerged gleeful as ever in the Italian sun this morning.

The final day is here and Team USA have managed to make it without slumping to defeat on what eventually turned out to be a decent Saturday for them. Team Europe maintain their position in the driving seat and need just four points to reclaim the trophy.

Stick with us throughout the morning, afternoon and evening for all the action from Rome.