Ryder Cup

McIlroy-McDowell split would be tactical, says McGinley

Bob Harig

September 23, 2014

Ian Poulter reveals Europe's Ryder Cup strengths

The court case that has simmered in the background in recent months will not keep Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell from being paired as partners for the European team during the Ryder Cup.

Those are the wishes of McDowell, whose management company Horizon is being sued by McIlroy; both golfers' representatives were told by an Irish court recently to try to settle the matter.

Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy could be paired together during the Ryder Cup despite a relationship that has been strained recently due to legal issues.

Meticulous McGinley

Paul McGinley will have every eventuality covered © Getty Images

The wait for Paul McGinley is almost over: at Gleneagles on Friday, Europe's Ryder Cup captain will embark on a weekend of decision-making, drama, despair and, he hopes, delirium.
He will have thought about absolutely everything says good friend and vice-captain Sam Torrance, who lifted the Ryder Cup both as a player and leader.
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For what it's worth, European Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley said on Monday that the legal issues would not keep the two golfers from Northern Ireland from being put together when the event begins on Friday.

"It's not an issue, and it's not been an issue for me in terms of Ryder Cup captaincy since these court proceedings started," McGinley said at a captains' news conference to kick off Ryder Cup week. "Both of them have assured me all along that there are no issues and that's the way I've always seen it. Whether they come together or not is another story."

McDowell has said that the two Northern Irishmen have seen their relationship "strained" over the legal proceedings that started when McIlroy left Horizon last year.

"It's been a rough time over the last couple of years on the business side of things for both me and Rory because [he] has been involved with a lawsuit with my management company," McDowell said in a blog post he wrote for the BBC.

"It certainly has put a stress on our relationship, but we have put those things behind us this year. If anything, our friendship has been strengthened by what we have experienced. We have talked about it and we would certainly love to renew our partnership again."

Poulter to finish top of the pile

Ian Poulter loves the Ryder Cup © Getty Images

It is no secret Ian Poulter loves the Ryder Cup - just look at his record. American captain Tom Watson has already pinpointed his side must deal with "Poults" if they are to win at Gleneagles.
Poulter will be as motivated as ever to prevent that from happening and at 5/1 with Unibet, he looks a great bet to finish as Europe's top points scorer. Odds of 10/1 for him finishing the tournament's top points scorer look equally as appealing too.
Click here to bet on the Ryder Cup with Unibet

McDowell and McIlroy met three weeks ago for dinner at the BMW Championship in Denver to try to avert any issues. Last week, a judge in Dublin suggested to both sides that they enter into mediation; a trial date is set for February.

"Who wouldn't want to team up with the guy who has played the best golf all summer?" McDowell said. "There would be a queue out of the door of players wanting to partner [with] Rory and, absolutely, I would be among them."

McIlroy and McDowell have been paired together six times over the past two Ryder Cups, posting a 2-3-1 record.

"I've got lots of options with them," McGinley said. "But if I don't decide to play them [together], it would be for tactical reasons. It won't be for any other reasons. They have played six Ryder Cup matches and have only won two together."

European players were arriving throughout the day at Gleneagles, where both teams will stay during the week.

The American team arrived on an overnight charter on Monday morning and was at Gleneagles by midday. US captain Tom Watson, 65, will be the oldest in Ryder Cup history and is getting his second stint in the role, having been the last US captain to win overseas when the Americans won 15-13 at the Belfry in 1993.

Since then, the US has won the Ryder Cup just twice, falling 14½-13½ two years ago when the Europeans staged a huge final-day comeback - a big theme for Watson this week.

"I made it very clear to them that this trip is a redemption trip," Watson said. "Those players that played on that team, if any players are on this team, it's time to make amends and try to redeem ourselves for what happened in 2012. I think it's a motivation rather than a negative."