Graeme McDowell does not expect to be paired with Rory McIlroy at this week's Ryder Cup, telling reporters this morning that his on-course dynamic with the world number one has "changed forever" but stressing that their friendship is now stronger than ever.
McIlroy and McDowell, who are currently involved, directly and indirectly, in a court case with McIlroy’s former management company Horizon, were kept apart this morning as Europe’s players prepared for their first official practice rounds at Gleneagles.
The pair had been regular partners in team events since 2009, winning three of their four matches in the Seve Trophy and also representing Ireland in the World Cup that year and 2011.
The Ulster duo have also played six times together in the Ryder Cup, including the very first match at Medinah two years ago, and would seemingly make an obvious pairing at Gleneagles.
However, European captain Paul McGinley said on Monday that their record of two wins, three losses and one half from those six matches meant they were not a formidable pairing “written in stone”, while McDowell said this morning that “the dynamic has changed significantly from the first time we ever played together back in 2009.
I had perhaps the older brother/younger brother leadership role that maybe I had with him, that’s changed.
“He’s the world’s number one player. He’s a four-time major champion. The dynamic between him and I is changed forever. He 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 a little bit, who needs to feel like he is at least on a level with the guy he’s playing with.”
Tuesday’s practice line-up offered various hints about possible partnerships with McGinley splitting the 12-man team split up into four groups of three.
McIlroy was alongside Medinah hero Martin Kaymer and Spain's Sergio Garcia, with McDowell alongside France's Victor Dubuisson and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.
It was no surprise to see good friends Justin Rose and Ian Poulter in the same group with local favourite Stephen Gallacher, with Thomas Bjorn, Lee Westwood and Jamie Donaldson making up the other threesome. All three played in the Wales Open last week, with Westwood and Donaldson playing together in the first two rounds at Celtic Manor.
Europe were due to practice at 11am with the American team starting at 9.30am and split into three groups of four.
Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson, who played three matches together at Medinah, were out with Matt Kuchar and Jordan Spieth, while Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson, Hunter Mahan and Patrick Reed made up the second group.
Keegan Bradley and Phil Mickelson, who won all three of their matches two years ago, were out with Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker.
