Rory: "Nonsense" That "Strained" GMac Friendship An Issue

Martin Dempster reports on Rory McIlroy shooting down any tensions with Graeme McDowell over his claims against Horizon Sports Management. He also denies that the lawsuit's timing was orchestrated to put a damper on GMac's wedding.

However, he needed to come up with a more believable excuse than this...

It is also claimed McIlroy’s team referred to McDowell’s marriage in emails as “D-Day”. McIlroy’s team has denied this, insisting the “D-Day” references related to the day when the lawsuit would be filed and that the date was selected due to a “simple gap” that emerged in his busy schedule.

McIlroy did use the strained word, so take his assurances that this is not a tension-creator with a grain...

“I am still as close to him (McDowell),” said McIlroy on a visit to East Lothian yesterday to officially open the world’s first Nike’s performance facility at Archerfield Links, where he stayed during last year’s Open Championship at Muirfield. “There’s obviously been a few things that have gone on that have strained the relationship, but I still talk to him regularly and catch up with him.

“He has stayed out of everything as much as he can and there’s no ill feeling towards him in any way from my side. He’s been one of my best friends on Tour and showed me the ropes. I will always be grateful for what he’s done and for going out of his way to make me feel comfortable out here.”