US captain Jim Furyk is confident another HatGate controversy will not erupt this week.
Getty Images
Although the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup are distinctly different events run by different organizations, Team USA plays in both. As a result, some things carry over from one event to another. But the US Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk hopes to prevent a particular distraction from the 2023 Ryder Cup from re-emerging this week at Royal Montreal: The HatGate controversy.
To remind you of those “tough” times, controversy swirled around American stars Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele not wearing their Team USA hats during the race in Rome. A Sky Sports report suggested their capless move was in protest at not being paid enough to play the team’s biennial exhibition.
Ahead of the 2024 election … at the 2024 Presidents Cup … we asked about role models
Cantlay and Schauffele quickly denounced the report, with Cantlay stating that the reason he wasn’t wearing a hat was because the team’s hats in Rome didn’t fit him, an issue that has come up for him before.
“Look, I didn’t wear a hat because the hat didn’t fit exactly as I would have liked,” Cantlay told GOLF’s Dylan Dethier later in the year. “I’m very particular about almost everything I decide on. And I just didn’t feel comfortable wearing it; I felt more comfortable without him. There’s nothing more behind it than I just felt more comfortable not wearing one.”
But the controversy moved from the press room to the course when European fans and players started waving their hats to mock hatless Americans. The American players and players followed suit, with Cantlay and Schauffele rocking imaginary hats on the court during their Saturday match together. At the end of Saturday’s match in Rome, the incident broke out when Cantlay’s caddy Joe LaCava waved his hat at the European players as Rory McIlroy lined up a putt, leading to shouting matches, thorn of the press conference and a near fight between McIlroy and caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay in the parking lot.
The story behind Patrick Cantlay, ‘HatGate’ and a Ryder Cup gone mad
To make matters worse, the series of events only seemed to inspire the Europeans and they went on to win the Cup 16.5-11.5.
It is sure to protect any American captain who would like to avoid a repeat this year. Fortunately for Furyk, Cantlay was spotted wearing a hat during practice rounds at Royal Montreal.
The sartorial decision caught the eye of a reporter, who asked Furyk about it during his joint press conference with international captain Mike Weir on Tuesday.
“We finally had one that was that weird shape that would fit in there,” Furyk joked, referring to a hat that would fit Cantlay’s head.
He then explained that Cantlay wore a hat during the last President’s Cup in 2022, and they have the same vendor providing the hats this year.
“I think a lot of them are our vendors,” Furyk said. “He wore a hat two years ago in Charlotte. We had the same vendors on the PGA Tour, and he seems to be comfortable.”
That said, Furyk also noted that there is no problem if any players decide to sit out this week in Montreal.
“If my boys are comfortable with hats, they can wear hats. If they’re not comfortable with hats, it doesn’t matter,” he said.
Then Furyk flashed a self-deprecating mood, striking his skull in unique fashion.
“I’m not doing too well, I’ll just say. “My head will turn purple in a day, but I like them comfortable,” Furyk joked. “I think we’d both say the outfits this year, my boys love it.”
of 2024 Presidents Cup kicks off Thursday morning with the first five games.
