VIDEO: Rory McIlroy Mocks Patrick Cantlay Pre-Shot Routine

January 28, 2026

New footage has emerged on social media of Rory McIlroy mocking Patrick Cantlay and his pre-shout routine at the 2025 Ryder Cup.

The five-time major champion is seen mimicking Cantlay’s pre-shot footwork routine whilst the American is about to tee off.

Rory McIlroy Mocks Patrick Cantlay Pre-Shot Routine In New Footage

An unseen clip of Rory McIlroy mocking Patrick Cantlay’s pre-shout routine at the 2025 Ryder Cup has gone viral.

The five-time major winner revealed his biggest golf ambitions ahead of the 2026 season, one of which was to win the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor.

The career Grand Slam winner was Team Europe’s second best points scorer behind Tommy Fleetwood at Bethpage Black last September, securing 3.5 points from a possible five for the Europeans.

During his second match in Friday’s afternoon four-ball session, McIlroy was partnered alongside good friend and fellow Irishman Shane Lowry. They were up against the US team of Sam Burns and Patrick Cantlay, with the match eventually being halved after 18 closely-fought holes.

https://twitter.com/NUCLRGOLF/status/2016327551975673960

Although the Ryder Cup was over four months ago now, new footage has emerged from that McIlroy/Lowry vs Burns/Cantlay match. A video has gone viral on social media of McIlroy seemingly mocking Cantlay’s pre-shot routine.

This hilarious moment was captured on camera, and is only seeing the light of day just now. The video sees Cantlay preparing to tee off, with McIlroy standing waiting for the American. Cantlay is a notoriously slow player, and it’s clear that McIlroy isn’t a fan of this after mocking Cantlay.

The Northern Irishman is seen mimicking Cantlay’s foot movement, stepping from side to side on both feet before setting himself to hit his shot. McIlroy does the exact same thing while Cantlay is about to tee off, much to the amusement of golf fans who have now seen the video.

There have been mixed responses online, with the majority of fans seeing the funny side of it. Some fans feel it is a good way to raise awareness of slow play in professional golf, which seems to be an ongoing problem.

Incredible https://t.co/NChNEakDmf

— Rory Tracker (@RoryTrackr) January 28, 2026

McIlroy and Cantlay Have Previous With 2023 Ryder Cup Spat

It’s likely that since this video has gone viral on social media, Patrick Cantlay will have seen the clip. It could be news to Rory McIlroy, who might have even forgotten about the instant some four months on from the 2025 Ryder Cup.

McIlroy changed clubs for the first time since 2017 at the beginning of the new season, and will attempt to defend his Masters title in April at Augusta National. Cantlay will likely be one of his rivals come April, and it would be interesting to see the pair paired together for the first time since the incident.

This isn’t the first time that Cantlay and McIlroy have clashed, albeit this wasn’t an actual in-person clash. The pair shared some back and forth at the 2023 Ryder Cup in Rome, with Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava and McIlroy having a spat after Saturday’s four-ball match at Marco Simone Golf Club.

https://twitter.com/flushingitgolf/status/1802128715909894163

LaCava and McIlroy were involved in a heated exchange following Saturday’s four-ball match that saw Cantlay and Wyndham Clark defeat Matt Fitzpatrick and McIlroy. Their Ryder Cup bust-up was a huge talking point, once again stemming from McIlroy’s rivalry with Cantlay.

The pair have since played alongside each other, grouped together for the final round of the 2024 US Open in a two-ball. There was no needle between the two on that occasion, but there is evidently a dislike between them which goes both ways.

It will be interesting to see if McIlroy and Cantlay are paired together for any majors in 2026, or if the PGA Tour will try their best to keep the fierce rivals apart.