"Is he being paid?": Fans react as Patrick Cantlay seen wearing a cap at the Presidents Cup after Ryder Cup's 'hat' fiasco

Ahead of the Presidents Cup this year, USA star Patrick Cantlay has been spotted wearing his hat. It's still just practice days, but he is wearing the team hat just like the rest of his team. This is noteworthy given that last year, in the Ryder Cup, Cantlay did not wear a hat at any event.

This revolved around the issue of pay for players, as many speculated that he was protesting the lack of payment for golfers in this event. He denied this and said the hat just didn't fit, but that didn't end the speculation.

However, this year in a different international tournament but for the same team, it appears the hat issues are a thing of the past. Cantlay is wearing his USA hat and appears poised to do so all week and weekend.

This prompted conversation from golf fans who recalled the entire fiasco from the Ryder Cup.

"Hopefully he has better advisors in his life," one said.

"I think this whole thing is funny cause I’ve seen Rory not wear one several times during the event and not one thing said about it," another added.

"Still a loser personality," one noted.

"Yeah and it was no drama then and no big deal now," one stated.

"I hope we don't see much of this a*****e at all. PGA Tour players are the least likable pro athletes. I doubt he would make the team as a captain's pick," another said.

"Most boring golfer that ever lived," a fan chimed in.

Some fans were not happy with Cantlay, while others believed this was a non-issue and that it never was a real talking point for the golfer.

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Patrick Cantlay revealed why he was hatless in 2023

Patrick Cantlay went hatless at the 2023 Ryder Cup, sparking questions as to why he didn't wear one. Theories abounded, but Cantlay said it was simply because it didn't fit.

Patrick Cantlay at the Ryder Cup (Source: Imagn)

A reporter asked if he felt that golfers should be paid to play the Ryder Cup, and he said via The Athletic:

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

When pressed, he said:

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

It got to the point that fellow American golfer Brian Harman had to jump in:

“Y’all just don’t quit, do you? We love each other, man. It’s been the most fun getting to hang out with these boys.”

The crowds didn't get the memo, though, and they mockingly took their hats off for Patrick Cantlay during the competition in Italy. He joked:

“Yeah, I’ve never had so many standing ovations going to tee boxes and greens. 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.”

Ultimately, the Americans were resoundingly defeated by the Europeans at Marco Simone, so the country, with many of the same players, will try to rebound with a win in the 2024 Presidents Cup.