In the annuls of Ryder Cup frivolity, “Hat Gate” from the 2023 match at Rome is destined to have its own frothy chapter for fans to shake their heads about in the years to come. For those who don’t dine on flat-brim fodder, the Cliff Notes version is that Patrick Cantlay didn’t wear a hat, reportedly out of protest for not being paid to play in the Ryder Cup. It’s something Cantlay vehemently denied, saying instead that he wasn’t wearing a hat because they didn’t have one that fit his head. European fans, however, got all over Cantlay, waving their hats to rile him up. But it also riled up his caddie, Joe LaCava, whose response to the crowd then riled up Rory McIlroy, who then went psycho in the parking lot outside the clubhouse, caught fittingly by a camera that sent the video viral.
Jamie Squire
Richard Heathcote
Ross Kinnaird
🚨🤬👉 Rory McIlroy is LIVID! #RyderCup
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) September 30, 2023
The natural question then heading into 2025 and Bethpage Black would be whether Hat Gate might have a sequel. We’re here to report, however, that it appears unlikely. In the last two years, modern technology has made inroads, apparently to solve the problem that caused all the hubbub in the first place.
The U.S. Ryder Cup team had a hat made that would fit Cantlay.
Indeed, the three-time Ryder Cupper was wearing a bright white number with USA on the front during his Tuesday press conference at Bethpage. And when asked about the lid, Cantlay responded in his typically drool manner:
Q: Obviously there was an obsession with your headgear at the last tournament, last competition. You’re wearing a hat today. Is there a message in that?
PATRICK CANTLAY: No, not at all. Like I’ve said a million times, the hat didn’t fit last year, and this year we worked with them to make sure we had one, and we got one, so we’re good.
Hear that … we’re all good. And here he is wearing the hat earlier this week, too.
Harry How
Scott Taetsch/PGA of America
Cynics, however, might contend that we’re all good because the PGA of America is also compensating American players who made this year’s Ryder Cup team, giving them $500,000 with $300,000 earmarked for a charity of the player’s choice and a $200,000 stipend to be used at their discretion. For what it’s worth, Cantlay said that he’s donating his money a few foundations, including First Responders Children’s Foundation, the SCPGA Junior Tour, St. Jude and Folds of Honor.
Meanwhile, Cantlay did his best to debunk the theory that because the U.S. players are getting a stipend but the Europeans are not that the Ryder Cup means more to the Europeans.
“I think the U.S. guys are 100 percent focused on playing the best possible golf they can,” Cantlay said. “I know we’ve had tons of meetings and tons of prep has gone into putting our players in the best possible spot to succeed, and I know 100 percent of their focus is on playing the best possible golf they can, and I know it means a great deal to them to show up this week and perform.”
More Ryder Cup Preview Coverage 
Ryder Cup Ryder Cup 2025: Power rankings for all 24 players competing at Bethpage Black 
‘Sprint’ Starts This overlooked strategy wins Ryder Cups—stats prove it 
Voices Ryder Cup 2025: Will Bethpage be a breaking point for fan behavior?
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
