Why another ‘HatGate’ controversy is unlikely to brew at Presidents Cup

Though the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup are distinctly different events run by different organizations, the U.S. team plays in both. As a result, certain things carry over from one event to the other. But U.S. Presidents Cup captain Jim Furyk is hoping to prevent one particular distraction from the 2023 Ryder Cup from resurfacing this week at Royal Montreal: the HatGate controversy.

To remind you of those “heady” times, the controversy revolved around American stars Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele not wearing their U.S. team hats during the competition in Rome. A Sky Sports report indicated that their hatless move was in protest of not getting paid enough to play the biennial team exhibition.

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Cantlay and Schauffele quickly denounced the report, with Cantlay declaring the reason he didn’t wear a hat was because the team hats in Rome didn’t fit him, an issue that’s cropped up for him before.

“Look, I didn’t wear a hat because the hat didn’t fit exactly as I would have liked,” Cantlay told GOLF’s Dylan Dethier later in the year. “I’m very particular about pretty much anything I put on. And I just didn’t feel comfortable wearing it; I felt more comfortable without it. There is just nothing more behind it than I just felt more comfortable not wearing one.”

But the controversy moved from the press room to the course when the European fans and players started waving their hats to mock the hatless Americans. The U.S. players and caddies followed suit, with Cantlay and Schauffele waving imaginary hats on the course during their Saturday match together. Toward the end of Saturday’s play in Rome, the incident went into overdrive when Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava waved his hat at European players while Rory McIlroy was lining up a putt, leading to shouting matches, press-conference barbs and a near-fight between McIlroy and caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay in the parking lot.

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Making matters worse, the series of events seemed only to inspire the Europeans, and they went on to win the Cup 16.5-11.5.

It’s safe to safe any American captain would like to avoid a repeat this year. Fortunately for Furyk, Cantlay was seen wearing a hat during practice rounds at Royal Montreal.

The sartorial decision raised the attention of one reporter, who asked Furyk about it during his joint press conference with International captain Mike Weir on Tuesday.

“We finally had one that had that odd of a shape that it would actually fit on there,” Furyk joked, referring to a hat that would fit Cantlay’s head.

He then explained that Cantlay wore a hat during the last Presidents Cup in 2022, and they have the same vendor providing the hats this year.

“I think a lot of it’s our vendors,” Furyk said. “He wore a hat two years ago in Charlotte. We had the same vendors on the PGA Tour, and he seems to be comfortable.”

That said, Furyk also noted he has no problem if any player decides to go hatless this week in Montreal.

“If my guys are comfortable in hats, they can wear hats. If they’re not comfortable in hats, it doesn’t matter,” he said.

Then Furyk flashed some self-deprecating humor, taking a shot at his own uniquely-shaped skull.

“It doesn’t work out too well for me, I’ll just say. My head will turn purple after a day, but I want them comfortable,” Furyk joked. “I think we would both say that the clothing this year, my guys love it.”

The 2024 Presidents Cup kicks off Thursday morning with the first five matches.