McGinley: No Rory, G-Mac concerns

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  • September 17, 2014

Europe’s Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley has brushed aside concerns over Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell’s current legal issues.

The Northern Irish pair are currently involved in a court case with McIlroy’s former management company, Horizon Sports Management,

The legal battle is McIlroy’s, though McDowell finds himself indirectly involved, and the judge hearing the case has recommended the two sides engage in mediation as sensitive matters were involved.

“The case has all sorts of sensitivities involving two players on tour, a manager of one of them and a former manager or agent of the other. It has all sorts of complex issues involving relationship matters,” Mr Justice Brian McGovern told both legal teams.

McGinley is confident, however, that the long-running legal battle will have no bearing on the Ryder Cup and McIlroy and McDowell’s participation.

“It’s not a concern,” McGinley told a press conference ahead of this week’s ISPS Handa Wales Open. “It has been going for a year and both have had very strong years.

“Rory’s had arguably his best year ever (winning two major championships) and Graeme won the French Open. It has not affected their performance and both of them have assured me it’s not going to affect anything in the team room.

“I would be very surprised if they don’t play together although I’m not going to write it in stone.”

McGinley is beginning to finalise preparations ahead of next week’s showpiece, with various members of his team choosing to prepare in different ways.

Jamie Donaldson, Lee Westwood, Stephen Gallacher and Thomas Bjorn are competing in Wales this week, and McGinley is set to have dinner with them and hand over information and pictures detailing what to expect in terms of infrastructure at Gleneagles.

Those who played in last week’s FedEx Cup finale are taking the week off, which McGinley says is a good move.

“I’m delighted the guys who played in America are having a week off,” the Dubliner said. “We did not have that in Medinah and I think we suffered. Graeme McDowell has gone on record saying he felt unprepared physically and mentally.”

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