Phil Mickelson takes Ryder Cup shot at Rory McIlroy, Graeme McDowell lawsuit

Phil Mickelson just delivered the first bit of on-the-record trash talk at the Ryder Cup. While it was a well-delivered joke, because it hit on a personal and touchy topic for two of Europe’s biggest stars, his comments Wednesday are going to get dissected and he’s going to hear about it over and over from the European press.

A reporter asked Mickelson a question that posited that one of the theories why the Americans haven’t won many Ryder Cups is because they aren’t as close and they don’t get along. Mickelson’s only response was, “Not only are we able to play together, but we also don’t litigate against each other. So that’s a real plus.”

Boom. This is, of course, aimed at Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, the two Ulstermen who have played together in so many of the two-man games at these team competitions. McIlroy is suing Horizon Sports Management, his former rep company, which McDowell also has significant business dealings with and uses for management. It’s been an ugly breakup and lawsuit, with details occasionally leaking out in the press. McIlroy’s anger is presumably more directed at Conor Ridge and other Horizon folks than McDowell.

Last week, a judge urged the two parties to settle out of court because of how contentious the litigation could get. It should be noted that McDowell is also planning to sever his relationship with Horizon, but he’s still a significant part of the lawsuit (from Golf.com just last week):

McIlroy has alleged that McDowell received more favorable contract terms from Horizon despite being promised that he and McDowell would have similar deals. To bolster McIlroy’s case, his lawyers have requested confidential documents relating to McDowell’s contracts with Horizon, which troubled the presiding High Court judge, Justice Brian McGovern.

“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,” McGovern said. “It has all sorts of complex issues involving relationship matters.”

Both Northern Irishman have said the business issues between them would absolutely not impede a partnership again this week. But McDowell’s press conference on Tuesday seemed to indicate he’d moved on and wasn’t as comfortable playing with Rory anymore, due to golf reasons and not this lawsuit.

Phil clearly made the comment as a joke. The media center started laughing, and the Ryder Cup official controlling the press conference blurted out, “Ouch!” through his own laughter. And Phil followed up with his own, “I couldn’t resist.”

You rarely hear these tour pros comment on another’s outside business, whether it’s an angry critique or a well-intentioned quip. Mickelson’s remarks will get extra play given the confrontational setting of the Ryder Cup and the touchy topic of the frosting over of the Rory-Graeme duo.

This is going to be a thing that’s played over and over the next couple days before a match is ever played. God willing, Phil draws either McIlroy or McDowell right away on Friday.