The Loop

Lawsuit involving Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell could send ripples through European Ryder Cup team

Either Paul McGinley has a potential problem brewing or the Irish press is ginning up a controversy based on cursory circumstances.

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Sure, we suppose the relationship between Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell might be in some McTurmoil, but only if you believe that McDowell now harbors hard feelings for his countryman after McIlroy sued to be released from his contract with Horizon Sports Management. Among McIlroy's purported grievances was not receiving terms comparable to McDowell's. That McIlroy filed suit the day before G-Mac's wedding and then didn't attend the nuptials has a whiff of petulance, but McDowell has never expressed anything but admiration in his public comments about his Ryder Cup mate, with whom he's scored 2 1/2 points in the last two matches.

So, does McGinley have a potential rift among what surely would be one of his strongest pairs if they both make the team? We're doubtful. McIlroy's case won't be heard until early 2015, well after the Ryder Cup. Having spent enough time around the introspective McDowell, we're betting that even if he did harbor disfavor with McIlroy's legal actions, he'd never comment publicly. He's a bigger man than that. No, instead here's betting Europe will use this as another rallying cry against its real foe—the media.

(photo by Getty Images)