Of course, it has been widely known court papers have been submitted to a commercial court in Dublin last month by Horizon Sports Management, and McIlroy’s former sports agency, who he is suing in an action which suggests it might become increasingly between the U.S. Open winning duo..

And while the court showdown is not set to take take place to next January it’s feared there may be a Gleneagels Ryder Cup back lash if both players make Paul McGinley’s team.

Horizon Sports Management has claimed McIlroy issued legal proceedings against the agency on 27 September 27, 2013 – a day before McDowell married Kristin Stape.

Graeme McDowell fooling around with fellow Northern Irishman as last year’s Ryder Cup. (Photo – Colum Watts/www.golffile.ie)

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.

And after visiting Nike’s new performance facility at Archerfield yesterday (MON), McIlroy played down any rift.

“I am still as close to him (McDowell),” said McIlroy in the Scotsman article.

“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.”

Asked by reporters if there was a danger of the lawsuit affecting Ryder Cup harmony, McIlroy replied: “It won’t.  That is complete nonsense. GMac knows what is going on. It hasn’t affected our relationship in any way.

“At times it’s awkward because he’s with someone (Horizon Sports Management) but, at the end of the day, we are the same two people we were. I would love to tee it up with GMac in the Ryder Cup and (European captain) Paul McGinley knows that.

“I think GMac and I definitely work well for the foursomes,” said the 25-year-old, who is making his return to the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at Royal Aberdeen this week for the first time since teeing up in that event at Loch Lomond in 2009.

“I think the dynamic of how both our games suits foursomes well. One (McDowell) is sort of methodical, though long enough obviously at the same time, while he can play off my tee shots most of the time, which really helps.

“In the fourballs it is more a match up of personalities than anything else because you are playing your own ball and trying to make as many birdies as you can.”

McIlroy is in Scotland to contest Thursday’s starting Scottish Open and his first appearance in the event since 2009.

And before heading north to Aberdeen McIlroy singled McDowell out for praise following his successful defence of his French Open.

“It was great to see GMac win yesterday, especially shooting four-under on what was a tough day,” he said.

“I was following it on the way up from Liverpool (where he spent two days practising at Hoylake in preparation for next week’s Open Championship.

“I was listening to the Wimbledon final on the radio, but they gave the occasional update from the golf and to defend the title was good.”