• Ryder Cup

McDowell: Dynamic with Rory changed forever

Graeme McDowell says the reason he is unlikely to partner Rory McIlroy in Friday's opening session of the Ryder Cup is because he feels his compatriot's rise to stardom has seen their dynamic "changed forever".

Paul McGinley, Europe's captain, was adamant on Monday that if he splits the pair up it will be for tactical reasons, claiming the ongoing legal battle involving both would have no bearing on his decision.

However, former US Open champion McDowell claims his "older brother" leadership role in their partnership no longer works because he has been surpassed by world No.1 McIlroy, who claimed back-to-back majors this summer to take his tally to four overall.

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"There's no doubt our personal issues have been well documented the last couple years," McDowell said. "And I believe that we've come out of the other end of that probably better friends than we were going into it.

"So our personal issues are not a problem this weekend - that's a fact. I think tactically, you know, the golf dynamic between Rory and I has changed significantly from the first time we ever played together back in 2009 at the Seve Trophy. Perhaps the older-younger brother leadership role I had with him has changed. He's the world's No.1 player, he's a four-time major champion. The dynamic between him and I is changed forever.

"Rory would now be the leader of the two of us and perhaps the dynamic doesn't work as well as it did in the past. Perhaps I'm the kind of guy that needs that leadership role who needs to feel like he is on at least on a level with the guy he's playing with."

McDowell and McIlroy have played two fourballs together in the two most recent Ryder Cups and suffered a 2&1 defeat to Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley at Medinah in 2012.

Graeme McDowell is likely to partner Victor Dubuisson on Friday with the pair practicing together on Tuesday © Getty Images

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"I'll be the first to admit it. Medinah a couple years ago, and Rory and I spoke about this, I found the better-ball format very difficult with him because he likes to go first, I let him at it, and I kind of come second," McDowell added.

"You know, he's standing there beating it 350 down the middle, and I put my tee in the ground thinking there's not really a lot of point in me hitting this tee shot and find myself throwing myself at it. It didn't help my game much at Medinah playing better-ball with him."

McDowell revealed he had spoken about the subject with McGinley, who had a similar experience with regards to his Ryder Cup partnership with three-time major winner Padraig Harrington.

"I've spoken to McGinley about this, as well, because he felt like himself and Harrington were the same way," McDowell said.

"They gelled well as a partnership in their early days, but when Harrington became the star, the dynamic changed from a tactical point of view. It just didn't work so well any more. So I kind of feel that's kind of the way Rory and I are viewing this week."

McDowell could instead partner Frenchman Victor Dubuisson, a Ryder Cup rookie, on Friday but still hopes he can play alongside his fellow Northern Irishman on the weekend, however.

"Foursomes is different. I think we could still play foursomes really well together," McDowell said. "I love playing off his tee shot, as anyone would, 350 down the middle. We are both up for it. But like Paul says, he feels like I could be best used somewhere else … and Rory certainly can play with anyone. So we might be best served apart."

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