Phil Mickelson has mocked the idea of Europe being a closer bonded group than Team USA by casting up the legal case involving Northern Irish duo Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.
The former Open champion threw the grenade with a smile on his face, but it was a grenade nonetheless.
It was suggested to Mickelson that one of the theories about why the Americans have such a poor record over recent years in the Ryder Cup is that they are not as tight a squad as their opponents.
The veteran campaigner, who will make his 10th appearance when the competition gets underway on Friday, responded: “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.
“I couldn’t resist. Sorry.”
Mickelson’s comment refers to McIlroy being sued by his former management team, which McDowell is a partner of. The case is yet to be resolved.
McDowell has admitted that a strain has been put on their friendship, though he stressed on Tuesday that they have come out the other side and they are “probably better friends than we were going into it”.
Mickelson’s team-mate, Rickie Fowler, dismissed the remark as “Phil’s always Phil” but America’s most experienced player didn’t let it slip by accident and it would appear to fit in with captain Tom Watson’s observation that a bit of needle is part and parcel of matchplay golf.