American captain Jim Furyk hopes another HatGate controversy won't erupt this week.
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Although the Ryder Cup and President's Cup are distinctly different events run by different organizations, the American team plays in both. As a result, certain things carry over from one occasion to another. But U.S. Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk is hoping to prevent one distraction from the 2023 Ryder Cup from reoccurring this week at Royal Montreal: the HatGate controversy.
To remind you of those “tough” times, the controversy revolved around American stars Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele not wearing their US team helmets during the competition in Rome. A report by Sky Sports revealed that their no-nonsense move was an indication that they were not earning enough to play in the club's twice-yearly exhibition.
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Cantlay and Schauffele quickly dismissed the report, with Cantlay announcing the reason he didn't wear the hat was that the Rome team's hats didn't fit, an issue he had previously discussed.
“Look, I didn't wear the hat because the hat didn't fit exactly the way I would have liked,” Cantlay told Dylan Dethier of GOLF later this year. “I'm very picky about what I wear. And I didn't just feel comfortable wearing it; I felt more comfortable without it. There's nothing better than that except that I feel comfortable not wearing it.”
But the controversy moved from the press room to the course where European fans and players began shaking their helmets to mock the unhinged Americans. The US players and caddies followed suit, with Cantlay and Schauffele raising thoughtful hats on the course during their Saturday match together. Late in Saturday's match in Rome, an incident escalated when Cantlay's Joe LaCava tipped his hat to the European players as Rory McIlroy lined up a putt, leading to heated plays, press conference barbs and a fight between McIlroy. and caddy Jim “Bones” Mackay in the parking lot.
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To make matters worse, the series of events seemed to encourage the Europeans, and they went on to win the Cup 16.5-11.5.
It's safe to say that any American captain would like to avoid a repeat this year. Fortunately for Furyk, Cantlay was spotted wearing a helmet during Royal Montreal practice.
The mock decision drew attention from another reporter, who asked Furyk about it during a press conference with international captain Mike Weir on Tuesday.
“In the end we had one that was oddly shaped to fit in,” Furyk joked, referring to a hat about the size of Cantlay's head.
He then explained that Cantlay wore the hat during the last Presidents Cup in 2022, and they have the same vendor providing the hats this year.
“I think most of our salespeople,” Furyk said. “He wore a hat two years ago in Charlotte. We had the same vendors on the PGA Tour, and he seems comfortable.”
That being said, Furyk also noted that he doesn't have a problem if any player decides to go on the offensive this week in Montreal.
“If my boys are comfortable in hats, they can wear hats. If they are not comfortable with hats, it doesn't matter,” he said.
Furyk then made a self-deprecating joke, photographing his oddly shaped skull.
“It's not going well for me, I'll just say it. “My head will be purple after a day, but I want them to be comfortable,” Furyk joked. “I think we can both say that the clothes this year, my boys love it.”
The 2024 Presidents Cup starts on Thursday morning with the first five matches.
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