Lefty throws a low blow at Irish rivals

Phil Mickelson hurled a verbal grenade into the Ryder Cup pressure cooker yesterday by suggesting the ongoing legal dispute between Rory McIlroy and his management company was affecting European team harmony.

The American veteran, preparing for a record 10th Ryder Cup appearance at Gleneagles this weekend when the 40th matches between the United States and Europe get under way in Scotland tomorrow morning, launched the unprovoked jibe against the world number one by alluding to his claim and the counter-claim made by Dublin-based Horizon which are set to enter into court-ordered mediation

Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell is a client of Horizon until the end of this year and his contractual arrangements with the management company have been dragged into the court cases at the request of McIlroy’s lawyers, although the Portrush golfer is not a party to either claim.