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McGinley insists their is no McIlroy/McDowell rift

By: Golf Shake | Wed 24 Sep 2014


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


European captain Paul McGinley insists he has no concerns over Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell’s relationship ahead of the Ryder Cup, even though McDowell admitted that the world No1 has now outgrown him.

"The older brother, younger brother thing that we had is not the same any more," he said. "He is a four-time major winner and the world number one. The dynamic between the two of us may have changed forever and maybe I need that leadership role."

McIlroy, 25, and McDowell have played six Ryder Cup matches together, winning two and halving one. Both victories camein the foursomes, the alternate shot format, with a half and a defeat in fourballs - where players hit their own ball and take the best score.

"I found the betterball format with him in Medinah very hard because he would hit it 350 yards down the middle off the tee and I would be standing over my tee shot and find myself thinking 'there is not a lot of point in me hitting this' while trying to throw everything into it," said McDowell at Gleneagles ahead of this week's biennial contest with the USA. It was not good for my game.

"I would embrace the chance to play foursomes with Rory. I think everyone in the world would love to play off his tee shot. But I have spoken to Paul McGinley about this and he had something similar with Padraig Harrington when he became the star and it changed their partnership."

The Northern Irish pair are currently involved, directly and indirectly, in a court case with McIlroy’s former management company.

McIlroy’s legal battle with Horizon Sports Management also involves the affairs of McDowell and the judge hearing the case said last week it involved such sensitive matters that the sides should engage in mediation.

“The case has all sorts of sensitivities involving two players on tour, a manager of one of them and a former manager or agent of the other. It has all sorts of complex issues involving relationship matters,” Mr Justice Brian McGovern told both legal teams.

However, McGinley believes the issue has been dragging on for so long that it will have no effect when the pair help Europe defend the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.

“It’s not a concern,” McGinley said. “It has been going for a year and both have had very strong years. Rory’s had arguably his best year ever (winning two major championships) and Graeme won the French Open. It has not affected their performance and both of them have assured me it’s not going to affect anything in the team room.

“I would be very surprised if they don’t play together although I’m not going to write it in stone.”

McDowell may well have won the French Open, but the truth is that he has had a poor year. And McIlroy has hinted broadly that he fancies being paired with one of the European rookies. Indeed, when McGinley sent the players out for their first practice session it was notable that McIlroy and McDowell were not together.

McGinley said he has a “skeleton plan” in place for his pairings and is happy with the different preparation methods of his team. Jamie Donaldson, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher and Thomas Bjorn competed at last week's Wales Open, with contrasting fortunes.

The captain also “endorsed” Victor Dubuisson’s decision to withdraw from the tournament and prepare in France, with the players involved in the latter stages of the FedEx Cup play-offs having a rest.

“I’m delighted the guys who played in America are having a week off,” the Dubliner said. “We did not have that in Medinah and I think we suffered. Graeme McDowell has gone on record saying he felt unprepared physically and mentally."

McGinley said the three rookies on his team - Dubuisson, Donaldson and Gallacher - will definitely play at least one match before the singles. He also revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson is part of his team and will be relating various anecdotes to the players throughout the week.

Image Credit - Graeme McDowell Facebook Page


Derek Clements is a sports journalist with a particular passion for golf with over 12 years of experience covering golf and other sports including Chief Sub-Editor on the sports desk of The Sunday Times. To contact Derek email direct via [email protected]


 


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Tags: rory mcilroy graeme mcdowell



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