Patrick Cantlay accidentally broke Ryder Cup news after his BMW Championship win
By Joel Beall
Rob Carr
Patrick Cantlay is a man of many talents, as his Sunday performance at Caves Valley suggested. He is a second-shot savant. A lights-out putter. A stone-cold assassin. And, apparently, a reporter.
When speaking to the media following his BMW Championship victory Sunday night, Cantlay broke some news—perhaps accidentally—on the upcoming Ryder Cup.
With his third win of the season, Cantlay secured the sixth and final automatic bid for the American team. Cantlay was asked what it meant to make his first Ryder Cup squad, and in the process revealed this tidbit.
"Yeah, I'm excited. Fred Couples texted me this week and said it looks like he's going to be one of the assistant captains, and so he'll be up there," Cantlay said.
For what it's worth, Couples has not been announced as an assistant to U.S. captain Steve Striker. Those honors, publicly at least, have gone to Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Davis Love III. Though the role historically has been ceremonial, assistants have become a bigger part of the Ryder Cup experience over the past 15 years.
"I've been talking with Xander, obviously, and J.T. and Jordan, and we're really looking forward to it," Cantlay continued. "It's nice to get in on points. I think that's the case. And I'm really looking forward to that whole event. I've heard so much about it and watched it growing up. I mean, I'm sure it will be everything I've imagined and more. I will lock in there, and hopefully we'll get a victory."
MORE: The clubs Patrick Cantlay used to win the BMW Championship
Cantlay did play on the 2019 Presidents Cup team, scoring three points for the Americans in a victory at Royal Melbourne. As for Couples, he has been a Presidents Cup captain three times, and was an assistant for Stricker at the 2017 Presidents Cup.
The Ryder Cup begins Sept. 24 at Whistling Straits.