PHIL MICKELSON last night threw in a verbal grenade to end the phoney war of Ryder Cup press conferences at Gleneagles.
The USA player made a jibe, apparently aimed at Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, when asked about the US team's poor record in recent matches and whether the Americans could play together.
"Well, not only are we able to play together, we also don't litigate against each other and that's a real plus, I feel, heading into this week," he said.
Mickelson smiled as he added: "I couldn't resist. Sorry."
His comment follows a move by McIlroy to sue his former management company Horizon with the claim that he was given "markedly inferior" treatment to McDowell. It is also alleged McDowell was a shareholder in Horizon, which McIlroy's lawyers term as an 'extraordinary' matter. A judge in Dublin has instructed both sides to hold mediation talks.
Mickelson was keen to give the impression that his remark was light-hearted but it is difficult to believe it was not premeditated and it comes as the Americans are becoming increasingly tetchy about remarks about their mental strength, particularly in the wake of the collapse in the singles at Medinah in 2012.
Mickelson, too, may not have been best pleased by comments recently by McIlroy that suggested the 44-year-old American may be past his best. The 25-year-old Northern Irishman also referenced yesterday a Mickelson wayward drive in 2004 "that nearly hit me" when talking of a change in drivers.
Mickelson, too, had been questioned earlier in the press conference about his record in Ryder Cups. He has lost more matches in the competition than any other American, though he has played in nine Ryder Cups. Asked about this "blot " on his record, he said: "I would not say it as eloquently as you by calling it a blot but I think it is a record I would like to improve on."
Pressed on whether this record had a "sting' he said: "Are you always this half-empty? Is that how you look at things? Because we are more optimistic here."
McIlroy and McDowell were once Ryder Cup partners but Paul McGinley, the European captain, has hinted strongly this week that this pairing may be broken up, though he insists this would not be because of any animosity caused by the court case.
Rickie Fowler, Mickelson's team-mate and a friend of McIlroy, later said he did not think the legal row would affect either player. "They will find a way to get on just fine," he said. "They are going to be tough to beat no matter what."
Of Mickelson's jibe, he said: "Phil's always Phil. That is why we love him. He's a lot of fun to be around and we hear a lot of those one-liners in practice rounds."
Earlier this week, McDowell, 35, said McIlroy, 25, had perhaps outgrown him as a golfing partner. "The older brother, younger brother thing that we had is not the same any more," he said.
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