Patrick Cantlay clarifies why he isn’t wearing a hat at Ryder Cup: ‘It doesn’t fit’ (2024)

Patrick Cantlay clarified why he isn’t wearing a hat at the Ryder Cup following his four-ball match win over Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick on Saturday. Here’s what you need to know:

• Cantlay said “The hat doesn’t fit” when asked why he isn’t wearing a cap at the Ryder Cup. “It didn’t fit at Whistling Straits, and didn’t fit this week,” Cantlay said. “Everyone knows that.”
• Fans at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club began chanting “Hats off” when Cantlay hit his tee shots while taking their hats off when the American approached the tee box. “I’ve never had so many standing ovations going to tee boxes and greens,” Cantlay said. “I thought it was fantastic.”
• After Cantlay and Wyndham Clark won 1-up over McIlroy and Fitzpatrick, members of Team USA began taking their hats off and waving them to the European fans. Europe leads 10 1/2 – 5 1/2 over USA heading into Sunday singles.

Wave those hats 🇺🇸 https://t.co/XYlShGsnbN pic.twitter.com/z7CJkDnSTB

— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) September 30, 2023

Backstory

Moments after Cantlay and Clark won the final match of the day with a Cantlay birdie on No. 18, the two and four others — Brian Harman, Max Homa, Sam Burns and Collin Morikawa — walked into the news conference area as one group. The six collectively accumulated four points for the Americans on Saturday, cutting the European deficit to five points heading into Sunday’s 12 singles matches.

The second question came from Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir, who earlier in the day reported on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Cantlay was not wearing a hat as a means of protest over the Ryder Cup not paying players beyond a $200,000 donation to charity. He also reported that it was leading to a division in the team room.

“Do you believe players should be paid to play in the Ryder Cup?” Weir asked.

Cantlay answered: “It’s not about that. It’s just about Team USA and representing our country.”

So why does Cantlay not wear a hat in Ryder Cups (he also did not wear one in 2021) but do so on the PGA Tour?

“The hat doesn’t fit. It didn’t fit at Whistling Straits, and didn’t fit this week. Everyone knows that,” Cantlay said.

Further pressed on the idea of division in the U.S. team room, Harman interjected. “Y’all just don’t quit, do ya. We love each other, man. It’s been the most fun getting to hang out with these boys.”

Then Clark said, “Think you’re putting too much into the hat.”

Throughout the afternoon, Cantlay was greeted by crowds mockingly taking off their hats toward him.

“Yeah, I’ve never had so many standing ovations going to tee boxes and greens,” Cantlay said. “I thought it was fantastic. You know, I told Wyndham when we were going to the first tee today that we were going to use all the energy out there as fuel, and we did.”

Required reading

• The Athletic’s Ryder Cup live blog
• Ryder Cup analysis: 10 notes to know on Europe’s record-setting day
• Zach Johnson believes the Americans can still win the Ryder Cup. Does anyone believe him?

(Photo: Patrick Smith / Getty Images)