RORY McILROY kicked off in a car park as the Ryder Cup descended into all-out war.
Fuming McIlroy had to be bundled into a vehicle by team-mate Shane Lowry after blowing his top with Team USA following a dramatic last-hole defeat.
Europe go into the final day in Rome needing just four victories from the 12 singles matches to win back the trophy.
Raging McIlroy confronted Patrick Cantlay’s caddie Joe LaCava for distracting him as he lined up a putt to tie his fourball match on the 18th green.
And the Northern Irishman was still seething as he left for the team hotel with Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay, bagman for Justin Thomas, caught in the crossfire.
McIlroy shouted: “It’s a f*****g disgrace, he can’t get away with it.”
LaCava was waving his cap at home fans who had taunted Cantlay for not wearing his.
Europe captain Luke Donald said: “I was there on 18 and saw it unfold.
“When Patrick made that putt, Joe was waving his hat.
“There was some hat- waving going on throughout the day from the crowd for our players.
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“I talked to Rory. He politely asked Joe to move aside. He was in his line of vision.
“He stood there and didn’t move for a while and continued to wave the hat, so I think Rory was upset about that.
“The Ryder Cup is always passionate. We’ve seen that many times.
“I will address all 12 of my guys tomorrow. I’ll give them the right messaging, and they will be ready to play.”
Cantlay was mocked by Europe fans throughout his round over reports he refuses to wear one due to not being paid.
Players receive no fee to compete in golf’s biggest team event.
McIlroy and partner Matt Fitzpatrick blew a one-hole lead on the 17th.
The flashpoint happened after Cantlay holed his 43-footer on the 18th — with misses by both McIlroy and Fitzpatrick giving the USA a point.
Europe are still five points ahead and Donald plans to ensure McIlroy is in the right frame of mind for today’s singles.
He said: “I’ll talk with Rory when I get back.
“As I said in my opening speech, we always try to play with passion, play with energy, but play with respect. That will certainly be my message to the players.
“We all want to win but we want to do it in the right way.
“Obviously Rory felt like the line was crossed on the 18th green.”
Team-mates Lowry and Justin Rose jumped in to help McIlroy in the confrontation on the 18th.
Donald added: “Of course they have their backs. We are a big family this week. We support each other.”
America captain Zach Johnson saw an afternoon fightback give his team hope and believes the car park row was dealt with.
He said: “To my knowledge it was defused. I spoke to Joe after and he said he had sorted it with Rory and it was OK.
“You see passion and complete emotion in the Ryder Cup. I don’t think it is any more than that.
“What I saw on 18 was a phenomenal putt and a celebration by some of our guys.
“I saw passion and all of what is great in the Ryder Cup come out.”
Johnson also said LaCava was not involved in the car-park melee.
Immediately after his first defeat at this year’s Ryder Cup, McIlroy insists he would not be put off but could not resist a dig at the Yanks.
He said: “Matt and I played well.
“Obviously they had a great finish and Patrick made three great putts at the end to seal the deal, so hats off to them.
“They played a great match. A few scenes there on 18 are just fuel for the fire tomorrow.”
