Rory McIlroy, Joe LaCava Reportedly Made Up After Heated Ryder Cup Dispute

McIlroy and LaCava, Patrick Cantlay’s caddie, reportedly met on Sunday morning to clear the air about the veteran looper’s 18th green celebration.

Editor's note: After his match Sunday, McIlroy denied meeting LaCava.

ROME — Rory McIlroy and Joe LaCava have apparently cleared the air and made up following a tense, angst-fueled confrontation on Saturday night at the Ryder Cup.

NBC reported Sunday prior to the start of singles matches at Marco Simone Golf Club that LaCava, the caddie for Patrick Cantlay and a 30-year-plus veteran, had reached out to the McIlroy camp via text on Saturday.

"Love you guys, I have nothing but respect," he said, then asked for a face-to-face meeting with McIlroy.

NBC reported that meeting occurred on Sunday morning and that the player and caddie cleared the air, diffusing the situation. But McIlroy himself said on Sunday after his match that a meeting had not taken place.

McIlroy was upset that LaCava, who was waving his cap in derision at the boisterous crowd along with other U.S. players and caddies following a long birdie putt by Cantlay at the 18th hole, did not move out of his line of sight when asked.

McIlroy and LaCava had an intense exchange on Marco Simone’s 18th green :: Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images

But after winning his match 3 and 1 over Sam Burns as part of Europe’s Ryder Cup victory, McIlroy denied a meeting took place.

"I haven’t met Joe," McIlroy told NBC’s Cara Banks.

She replied: "There was no clear-up of what happened last night?"

"I haven’t met Joe," he said.

Something McIlroy said upset LaCava on Sunday, leading to a heated confrontation that continued as the golfer was about to line up his putt on the green. It continued later in the club parking lot, where video was captured of McIlroy calling it "a disgrace" as he yelled past U.S. caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay toward LaCava, with Irish golfer Shane Lowry stepping in front of McIlroy to try and calm him down.

Cantlay had birdied the last three holes with partner Wyndham Clark in their match with McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick. The birdie on the 18th was from 43 feet, but both McIlroy and Fitzpatrick had putts to tie, with the U.S. team and LaCava in particular celebrating by mockingly waving their hats to the crowd.