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McIlroy: Last thing we need is day in court

Rory McIlroy admits his relationship with Graeme McDowell has been "strained" © Getty Images

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Rory McIlroy is hoping he can resolve the legal battle involving his Ryder Cup partner Graeme McDowell, admitting "the last thing we need is a day in court".

McDowell has been dragged into the world No.1's lawsuit against his former management company, Horizon, with McIlroy admitting their relationship has been "strained" as a result.

McIlroy's lawyers have asked for details of his fellow Northern Irishman's affairs with the same group, with the High Court judge hearing the case saying on Tuesday that the two sides should engage in mediation due to the complex "relationship matters" at hand.

"We have tried over the past six months to get to that point of mediation and resolution and every time we have tried to engage it's been knocked back," McIlroy told The Times. "It's great the judge has forced us into this mediation because it's the best way to do it. The last thing we both need is a day in court.

"G-Mac has tried to stay out of it as much as he can - it's none of his business, it's nothing really to do with him. I know that it has placed him in a tough position but he's done incredibly well in trying to be as impartial as possible."

The mediation has been ordered to take place within the next month with the case due to be heard in February.

More immediately, the pair will line up for Paul McGinley's European team at Gleneagles, and, having played together six times at the last two Ryder Cups, McIlroy says he will always be grateful to McDowell.

"At times it has been strained, of course, because he's managed by people I used to be managed by, and if he's with them then I don't want to go over and start chatting," McIlroy said.

"But we're still very close. We went out to dinner in Denver a couple of weeks ago. G-Mac's in a great place in life - he's just had his first baby - and we're great, we really are.

"I will always be grateful to him for showing me the ropes when I came out on tour and I still feel I have a really good friendship with him, regardless of whatever else is going on."

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