Report: Patrick Cantlay Leading Split In 'Fractured' US Ryder Cup Team

A report from Sky Sports states that there is a fracture in the US Ryder Cup camp driven by a desire from certain players to be paid.

Currently, Ryder Cup players do not get paid for playing in the biennial match, with organizers donating money to charity on behalf of the players.

Cantlay notably isn't wearing a cap for Team USA this week, which Sky Sports' Jamie Weir reported was "demonstrating his frustration" at not being paid. Weir later reported that Cantlay's agent told him it was because he couldn't find a fit he was comfortable with.

The US star's agent also refused to either confirm or deny Cantlay's views on whether plays should be paid for teeing it up in the USA vs Europe match, although Cantlay later dismissed the report as "complete lies" and "totally unfounded."

The Sky Sports report also stated that he and close friend Xander Schauffele have been sitting in a separate area of the locker room and were the main people who didn't want Netflix to film in the US team room for the upcoming Full Swing season 2.

The pair also didn't go on the US scouting trip to Marco Simone earlier in the month due to it clashing with Cantlay's bachelor party.

The Californian is also said to have refused to attend the gala dinner on Wednesday evening in Rome city center.

"Understand from several sources that the US team room is fractured, a split led predominantly by Patrick Cantlay," Jamie Weir wrote on social media.

"Cantlay believes players should be paid to participate in the Ryder Cup, and is demonstrating his frustration at not being paid by refusing to wear a team cap.

"Cantlay also refused to attend the gala dinner earlier in the week and, along with close friend Xander Schauffele, is sitting is a separate area of the team dressing room."

Barstool Sports journalist Dan Rapaport says the reports were "unfounded" and that Cantlay and Schauffele are in the same locker room as the rest of Team USA.

Team USA consistently denied the report of fractures within their camp, with Zach Johnson categorically denying the claims.

"That is extremely poor journalism unless I know something that's out there -- there is not a rift in this team room," he said on Friday night. "This is one of the most united teams I have ever been associated with.

"And when it comes to the dollar sign, I don't mean to sound cliché, but the Ryder Cup is about more than any of that. It's about standing with a band of guys to represent your nation, to represent more than you in the game of golf. It's a sport for one week.

"And you know what, I would say if there's anything that deals with money, there's guys that would pay to play in this. So I am not understanding that, and I think that is extremely inaccurate and arguably irresponsible."

Cantlay and his partner Nikki Guidish attended the photo ceremony for the Ryder Cup gala dinner earlier in the week, with Rapaport saying he didn't attend the dinner to rest ahead of the Ryder Cup.

Former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger further played down the report after fans on-site at Marco Simone were waving their caps at Cantlay.

"That's just hear-say. It's a garbage story it's just clickbait in my opinion and I don't believe it. Zach told everybody yesterday that this American team wasn't feeling well," Azinger said on air.

"What are they supposed to all be huggy, kissy? They're saying they're separated in the locker room and there's this big fight and there's this big fracture, and I just don't believe it."

Cantlay and Schauffele lost their first ever foursomes match together on day one to the duo of McIlroy and Fleetwood, ending their 5-0 run. Cantlay then didn't play in the afternoon fourballs. He and Schauffele were out again in the Saturday foursomes, losing to the pair of Rahm and Hatton.

USA lost the opening session 4-0 and trailed 6.5-1.5 after day one. Captain Zach Johnson later revealed that his team had been suffering with illness.

“The bottom line is there's been some unforeseen things that we've had to navigate around, which is really unfortunate, in the sense of health. It's not an excuse, because we have depth, but I'll just say, I'm grateful we have a team doctor," Johnson said on Friday night, confirming it was a “congestion” issue that had been passed around multiple players and caddies.

“We have got some congestion and some just signs of things that are unfortunate,” Johnson said. “It's one of those where sometimes the energy is probably a little low, but the ability and desire to go out and play is still there. 

“That's what we are weighing. Every one of them still wants to play every match, which is encouraging.”

Europe took the Saturday foursomes 3-1 to extend their lead to seven points, taking the score to 9.5-2.5.