No Hat Pat 🚫🧢

Well, things just got a little more interesting.

After an historically bad Day 1, the US needed to catch fire on Saturday. That didn’t happen in the morning, losing three out of four matches, including Viktor Hovland and Ludvig Åberg’s 9&7 shellacking of world number one Scottie Scheffler and 5-time major winner Brooks Koepka. It was the biggest loss ever (!!) in a Ryder Cup match and left Scheffler in tears.

Heading into the afternoon, the US was down 9.5 to 2.5 and looked ready to leave Rome early.

But the unlikely duo of Collin Morikawa and Sam Burns — both of whom were out-of-sorts and winless on Friday — came out of the gates strong, winning two of their first three holes and at one point leading 6-up over the redhot Hovland-Åberg pairing. They’d go on to win 4&3, which came with a little “I can’t hear you” from Burns at the 6th after fans apparently heckled him over his hair.

“I’m over the putt and I’m about to hit it and they told me to get a hair cut and then it went in,” Burns said regarding his response to the crowd. “I just wanted to say, ‘I can’t hear you anymore’ cause they didn’t say anything after that. So, I was just letting them know.”

Max Homa and Brian Harmon followed suit and won their second point of the day with a 2&1 victory over Tommy Fleetwood and Nicolai Højgaard. Homa carried much of the afternoon load, carding six birdies and an eagle. His chip-in for par at the 15th, however, was perhaps his most memorable of the day and a sign-of-life the Americans desperately needed. Homa, a Ryder Cup rookie, now has more points than any other player on the US team this week (2.5).

The Internet loved Homa’s chip-in as well 👇 

Maybe strangest moment of the day — if you can believe it — involved Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas’ group at the drivable Par 4 16th. Down three (with three holes to play) and with one of their opponents (Robert MacIntyre) already on the green in one, the Americans needed to make something happen.

But when Spieth pulled out driver, US Captain Zach Johnson intervened and appeared to talk the three-time major winner into going with 3-wood instead. Spieth proceeded to hit his tee-shot in the water. Justin Rose would make another match-clinching putt minutes later.

When asked about the interaction after the round Johnson said: “I’m not telling him what club to hit, that’s not for me to say… I’m giving him information that he can best utilize to make the proper decision.”

Yes, but: As the fine folks at The Fried Egg pointed out, no one had hit it long with driver on 16 all week.

If the Americans have even the slightest of chances on Sunday, it’s thanks to Patrick Cantlay, who battled alongside Wyndham Clark in the day’s final group to take down Rory McIlroy and Matt Fitzpatrick — ruining Rory’s pursuit of a perfect 5-0-0 record in Rome.

Cantlay made birdies at 17 and 18 to flip a one hole deficit into a 1-up victory. And, perhaps most impressively, he did so after a report earlier in the day that said his refusal to wear a Team USA hat resulted from his frustrations with not being paid to play in the Ryder Cup.

Sky Sports News reporter Jamie Weir said the issue had “fractured” the US team and that Cantlay and Xander Schauffele were sitting in a “separate area of the team dressing room.”

News of the report spread among patrons and by the end of the day, everywhere Cantlay went, fans were there waving their hats at him.

“Hatgate,” as it soon became known, came to a head on the 18th after Cantlay drained his 43-foot birdie putt. Teammates near the green waved their hats in celebration (and solidarity), as did Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava.

Rory (and a nearby Shane Lowry) took issue with LaCava’s actions, as the Europeans still had two looks at birdie to tie the match. Both would miss.

When asked about not wearing a hat after the round, Cantlay said: “It just doesn't fit. It's as simple as that.”

As for Rory, his frustrations continued as he left the course.

In the end, the Europeans lead the Americans 10.5 to 5.5 heading into Sunday.

And while Team USA is riding some momentum this evening, it’s likely too late. A win Sunday would be the largest comeback in Ryder Cup history.

Here’s a quick look at tomorrow’s matchups. 

Quick thoughts to-go: It’s a bummer we are not getting a Rory-Cantlay rematch on Sunday, but alas. Europe needs just four points to win.

Still, this would be kinda awesome to see 👇

That’s all for today! Thanks so much for reading and see you back here for a tomorrow for our final round recap.

As a reminder, through the end of this weekend, if you refer people to Quick Nine, you’ll be entered to win $120 towards your next round of golf. Get 10 people to sign up using your unique code below and you’ll have 10 chances to win. I’ll select one winner next week!

Have a nice night y’all. - Nick B. 🧢