Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay are set to go head-to-head in the final round of the US Open, less than a year after their Ryder Cup clash.
McIlroy managed to navigate the notoriously challenging Pinehurst No. 2, carding a 69, leaving him four-under for the week.
This score has placed the four-time major champion in a tie for second place with Matthieu Pavon and Cantlay, trailing behind leader Bryson DeChambeau.
Consequently, McIlroy will be paired with Cantlay for a thrilling showdown at Pinehurst No. 2 on Sunday.
This pairing is sure to excite fans, given their previous clash at last year's Ryder Cup in Rome.
McIlroy was instrumental in Team Europe's emotional 16.5-11.5 victory at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy, helping them reclaim the trophy they lost at Whistling Straits two years prior. During the Fourballs in Italy, McIlroy was paired with Matt Fitzpatrick against Cantlay and 2023 US Open champion Wyndham Clark.
Despite winning the final two holes, Cantlay and Clark could only manage a 1-up victory, keeping Team USA's hopes alive. However, following the conclusion of the match on the 18th green, McIlroy had a heated exchange with Cantlay's caddie Joe LaCava.
McIlroy was involved in an altercation with former Tiger Woods caddie, Joe LaCava, which seemed to anger the Northern Irish golfer. Speaking to the Irish Independent, McIlroy expressed his frustrations saying: "Here's what angered me. My relationship with Cantlay is average at best. We don't have a tonne in common and see the world quite differently."
Taking it further, he added:"But when I saw he was getting stick on the 17th and 18th greens, I tried to quiet the crowd for him. And I don't think Fitz (Fitzpatrick) and I were afforded the same opportunity to try and hole those putts to halve the match."
The tension didn't end there as McIlroy continued: "I shook Joe's hand and Patrick's hand. Those three putts he made on 16, 17, and 18 were fantastic, and under that pressure, to give your team a glimmer of hope going into Sunday was big balls. So all respect to him."
However, things took a turn when he said: "There was a bit of argy-bargy at the back of the 18th green with Fred Couples and Thomas Bjorn - and that's fine - but as I'm walking back to the locker room I can feel this red mist coming over me. 'No! That wasn't right.'"
Then it escalated: "And they're trying to defuse the situation, but I start having a go at them. Joe LaCava used to be a nice guy when he was caddying for Tiger, and now he's caddying for that ---- (Cantlay) he's turned into an ----. I still wasn't in a great headspace."
Cantlay has given a thumbs up to the idea of partnering with McIlroy in the final round of the tournament. Speaking to reporters on Saturday, he said: "Yeah, should be great. I don't know what Bryson is finishing up at, but to be in second or T-second, I'm in a great spot come tomorrow. It's a golf course that's a challenge.
"If you can make some birdies, you can gain a lot of ground. I'm really happy with how I played today, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
