G-Mac and McIlroy having a ball

THE US Open winning duo of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell are the closest of friends but there is one key difference in that relationship ahead of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup at Haikou in China.

For the two days of practice ahead of the 56th staging of the event on Hainan Island, the duo have been deciding on what ball to use in the competition.

McDowell has been observed hitting Srixon off the tee but then throwing down a Titleist for his practice shots into the greens. It is the same scenario with McIlroy, who has been driving Titleist off Blackstone course tees and then putting down a Srixon.