Irish Golf Desk

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McGinley plays down McIlroy-McDowell rift

Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell before the Saturday morning foursomes at Medinah in last year’s Ryder Cup. Picture Stuart Adams www.golftourimages.comRyder Cup skipper Paul McGinley insists he’s not concerned about the apparent estrangement of former stablemates Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

The multi-million euro leal action between McIlroy and his former agent Conor Ridge at Horizon Sports Management has led to a rift between the Northern Irish pair that could be a problem if they make the team for Gleneagles next year.

But McGinley is convinced that any differences will be patched up by then despite the fact that McIlroy did not attend McDowell’s recent wedding and faces a court trial date in Dublin’s Commercial Court next October.

Speaking before the court date was set, McGinley said: “It will be water under the bridge and it will be fine, so we will just have to wait and see.

“I am not going to worry about anybody at this point in time or where anybody is at the moment.

“Really, I don’t want to know what is going on as I have always got on really well with Conor (Ridge) and also it’s not my business, even if I am Ryder Cup captain, to get involved.”

There was tension between McIlroy and McDowell when the Horizon split became public in May.

But after appearing to sort out their differences, the relationship has become strained by the impending legal battle.

McDowell is close friends with Horizon boss Ridge and McIlroy’s decision to walk out of his management contract and sue has come as a shock.

The pair led Europe out on the first day of the Ryder Cup in Chicago last year but it was their only win from three games together. They were also a winning Ryder Cup partnership in the 2010 Ryder Cup win at Celtic Manor in Wales.