Patrick Cantlay Dismissed from U.S. Ryder Cup Team Following Unprecedented Slow Play Penalties

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**SAINT-QUENTIN-EN-YVELINES, France** – In a seismic and unprecedented move that has sent shockwaves through the golf world, Patrick Cantlay has been removed from the United States Ryder Cup team just days before the biennial matches are set to commence at Golf National. The decision comes after a review by the PGA of America and Ryder Cup USA leadership into multiple, formal complaints regarding Cantlay’s pace of play during official team practice sessions.

The controversy erupted during team practices held earlier this week at the Albatros Course, a layout known for its demanding, water-heavy design that inherently tests patience and pace. According to multiple sources within the team environment, several European team officials, alongside on-course rules officials from the DP World Tour, lodged formal complaints with the PGA of America after two consecutive practice rounds were severely impacted by what was described as “egregiously slow” play from the American group featuring Cantlay.

The issue reportedly came to a head during a simulated fourball match on Tuesday. Sources indicate that Cantlay’s group fell over a full hole behind the matches in front and behind them, causing a logistical nightmare for course marshals and disrupting the practice routines of other players. The group was reportedly put on the clock multiple times, with Cantlay being the primary cause of the delays.

“This wasn’t a matter of a few extra practice swings,” said one source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. “It was a systematic, deliberate pace that bordered on gamesmanship, even in a practice round. It created a tense atmosphere and was seen as disrespectful to the event, the course, and our European hosts.”

Team USA Captain, Zach Johnson, was reportedly involved in intense discussions with PGA of America executives and veteran team members throughout Wednesday. The core of the debate centered on whether Cantlay’s deliberate style, often a topic of discussion on the PGA Tour, crossed a line into conduct detrimental to the team’s unity and preparation, especially on the international stage where pace of play is governed by stricter, more enforced guidelines.

“The Ryder Cup is built on a foundation of sportsmanship and respect,” read a joint statement from the PGA of America and Ryder Cup USA. “After reviewing the official reports and discussing the matter at length with team leadership, we have determined that Patrick Cantlay’s actions during official team activities were not aligned with the standards we uphold. Therefore, we have made the difficult decision to remove him from the team effective immediately.”

The statement concluded, “This decision was not made lightly, but we believe it is in the best interest of the team and the integrity of the Ryder Cup.”

Cantlay, known for his stoic and unflappable demeanor, has yet to release a public statement. His management team was contacted but did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This stunning dismissal leaves the U.S. team with 11 players and an enormous void, both in skill and potential points. Cantlay, a stalwart in the last two Ryder Cups and Presidents Cups, was expected to be a cornerstone of the American effort to win on European soil for the first time in over three decades.

According to the Ryder Cup’s rules and regulations, as the event has officially begun with the opening ceremony scheduled for Thursday, the U.S. team will not be permitted to add a replacement player. They will forfeit Cantlay’s points and must compete with 11 men against Europe’s full 12-man squad, a catastrophic handicap before a single shot has been struck in competition.

The golf world now waits to see how Captain Zach Johnson will reshuffle his pairings and strategy, while the European team, already favored, finds itself with an unexpected and massive advantage before the first tee shot is ever hit. The incident casts a long shadow over what was already one of the most anticipated events in golf, turning a sporting competition into a story of conduct, consequence, and unprecedented controversy.