Rory McIlroy explains Ryder Cup row with Patrick Cantlay's caddie - ESPN

Rory McIlroy addressed his heated Ryder Cup bust-up with Patrick Cantlay's caddie, Joe LaCava, hinting that Tiger Woods attempted to play the role of peacemaker in the aftermath of the spat.

In an interview with theIrish Independent, McIlroy, 34, explained the context behind the drama.

«Here's what angered me,» McIlroy said. «My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don't have a ton in common and see the world quite differently.

»But when I saw he was getting stick on the 17th and 18th greens, I tried to quiet the crowd for him. And I don't think Fitz [Matt Fitzpatrick, McIlroy's partner] and I were afforded the same opportunity to try and hole those putts to halve the match. I shook Joe's hand, and Patrick's hand. Those three putts he made on 16, 17 and 18 were fantastic, and under that pressure, to give your team a glimmer of hope going into Sunday was big balls. So all respect to him.

«There was a bit of argy-bargy at the back of the 18th green with Fred Couples and Thomas Bjorn — and that's fine — but as I'm walking back to the locker room I can feel this red mist coming over me. 'No! That wasn't right.'»

McIlroy told the Irish Independent that he met with LaCava face-to-face on the evening after Europe's victory — something he had previously denied — though he said he thought the caddie's personality has changed.

«LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger [Woods] and now he's caddying for that d--- [Cantlay]. He's turned into an a--,» McIlroy said.

The Northern Irishman said Woods attempted to call him after the incident.

«There was also three texts and two missed calls from Tiger, because they're [Woods and LaCava] obviously still close,» McIlroy said.

«I sent him a quick message: 'It