• Ryder Cup

Rose: Fancy a third round, Mickelson?

Justin Rose has thrown down the gauntlet to Ryder Cup rival Phil Mickelson just hours before the start of the 40th edition of the event at Gleneagles.

Rose, playing in his first home Ryder Cup having missed out on the Celtic Manor four years ago, has beaten Mickelson in the singles in both his two appearances - first at Valhalla in 2008 then again at Medinah in 2012.

Both times the players went out in the 12-match final day and Rose has told the US veteran that if he fancies some revenge, he will know exactly where to find him.

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Martin Kaymer celebrates the vital putt at Medinah in 2012 © Getty Images

• Martin Kaymer says he had "no doubt in my mind" that he would sink the putt that retained the Ryder Cup for Europe at Medinah in 2012.
• Jose Maria Olazabal's team dominated the singles, despite starting the day 10-6 down, and it was up to Kaymer to hole a five-footer to ensure the famous trophy stayed on the east side of the Atlantic.
• "It's one of those things that you cannot miss," he said. "It's one of those things where you don't have a choice in missing. It's not an option - so it doesn't even cross your mind that you might miss.
• "I knew the line and I knew what I had to do. All I had to do was do it.
  "It's quite nice to get to know yourself in a way like this, because I was not afraid of failure."
• When asked if he would be okay playing a Nike ball if, say, he was paired with Rory McIlroy, Kaymer, a TaylorMade player, added: "I don't care, as long as it's white. I played with [former ladies world No.1] Paula Creamer at a sponsor day last week and I struggled with her pink ball."

"We've been sent out at four both times so he knows," Rose said. "My caddie, Fooch, has already been winding him up about a three-peat.

"Maybe that's too predictable. I'll do whatever captain Paul McGinley wants. But I like playing with Phil and in some ways I think beating him in those two singles matches was the making of me as a player."

Meanwhile, Rose has waded into the debate sparked by Mickelson's jibe it Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, dismissing it as "just banter".

During his press conference on Wednesday, Mickelson was questioned about the chemistry within the US team. He joked: "Well, we don't litigate against each other."

He was referring to the long-running legal case involving McIlroy, McDowell and management company Horizon - but Rose laughed off the comment.

"It was just getting things going," Rose said. "We don't have a problem with that at all. There's no real angst between the players from that point of view at all.

"In our team room it's a non-issue. I've been observing Rory and G-Mac too and they have been getting on great, playing golf together and hanging out.

"The atmosphere has been fantastic in our team room. Of course it was mentioned last night and Phil came up to Rory and it was no real big deal.

"It's nothing serious. I can imagine [he said it] just to spice things up and have a bit of fun with it.

"Amongst friends he loves the banter and he loves to throw a few bobs out there, which is great.

"Everyone responds to that, and that's why he's fun to play practice rounds with, and that's why he has a great Wednesday fourball at most tournaments because that's kind of the way he likes to be."

Rose also said that Europe are confident they can defend their title and require little motivation.

"We are very comfortable with our games and our situation, and we're very confident as a team," he said.

"We're focusing on the golf and we believe that the process is going to take care of things. We sort of have accepted the fact that we are the team to beat this week, and I just believe that we're playing a very, very strong team.

"The fact is we are going to have to rely upon now hard work and commitment and concentration and focus to get the job done. So anything like that, anything in the media or anything that's extra to that is not going to help the cause.

"It comes down to being professional. It comes down to getting the job done on the golf course."

Alex Perry will be giving his insights from Gleneagles for the duration of the Ryder Cup. Follow him on Twitter: @AlexPerryESPN

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