European golf stars brushed off a Phil Mickelson barb aimed at Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell, saying Thursday that such banter will have no impact on the Ryder Cup.
On the eve of the 40th biennial matchup between US and European squads at Gleneagles, 2013 US Open winner Justin Rose of England said the five-time major champion's remark might have been a bit of bolstering by the Americans for their own benefit.
"I can imagine just to spice things up and have a bit of fun with it," Rose said. "Maybe looking for that spark themselves. 'Don't forget about us, we're here.' And that's something the European team certainly have not forgotten."
On Wednesday, Mickelson was asked about US teamwork and replied, "Not only are we able to play together, we also don't litigate against each other and that's a real plus, I feel, heading into this week."
The barb was in reference to a lawsuit by world number one McIlroy, who won the British Open and PGA Championship in the past two months, against his former management company, one still used by good pal McDowell. Both players said the issue is behind them and they are better friends than ever off the course.
"You need to see how Rory and G-Mac are in the team room. They are very comfortable," said 2012 Europe Ryder Cup hero Ian Poulter. "There's no animosity in there whatsoever. The guys are good. So I just have to laugh at the comment.
"I don't think it's a big factor. I don't think mind games come into play. There are no personal vendettas. There are no grudges against anybody out there."
Germany's Martin Kaymer, the reigning US Open champion, said the remark was set aside almost as it was brought up.
"It's not really a topic for us. It's one of those things you read it, you laugh about it and that's it," Kaymer said. "I think in the end of the day, we should just play golf. It's fairly simple. If things like this start, it's a little -- I don't know if that's necessary."
Rose said Mickelson and McIlroy spoke at a concert Wednesday night in Glasgow.
"It's a bit of banter and getting things going. We don't have a problem with that at all," Rose said. "There's no real angst between the players and in our team room it's a non-issue.
"Of course it was mentioned last night. Phil came up to Rory and was like, hey, this and that. It's no real big deal.
"Phil likes to sort of be that guy that will throw a good line, especially amongst friends, which I assume that was his intent. Amongst friends he loves the banter and he loves to throw a few barbs out there, which is great."
Don't look for Europe to build it into extra motivation either, Rose said.
"We're very confident and comfortable with our games and our situation and we're very confident as a team," Rose said.
"We're going to have to rely upon hard work, commitment, concentration and focus to get the job done so anything extra to that is not going to help the cause. It comes down to being professional. It comes down to getting the job done on the golf course."
Poulter, whose emotional fightback sparked Europe's 2012 winning rally at Medinah, took being made a US target by American captain Tom Watson as high praise.
"I take Tom Watson's comment as a huge compliment to me as a player, as someone that has loved the Ryder Cup," Poulter said. "For Tom, accomplished as he is, to pay me that compliment is amazing."
- Europe owns US lately -
The US team leads the all-time rivalry 25-12-2 but Europe has won seven of the past nine meetings and owns a 9-7-1 edge since expanding beyond a British-Irish team.
The Americans have not won a Ryder Cup on European soil since Watson captained the 1993 US triumph at The Belfry in England.
Watson, who won four of his eight career major titles on Scottish soil, becomes the oldest captain in Ryder Cup history at age 65.
McIlroy sparks a Europe side that includes Poulter, Kaymer, third-ranked Spaniard Sergio Garcia and Sweden's fifth-ranked Henrik Stenson.
The Americans counter with two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson, Cup veteran Jim Furyk, five-time major winner Phil Mickelson and young rising stars Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler.
But the US lineup is missing several top names, including 14-time major champion Tiger Woods, Cup veteran Steve Stricker and 2013 PGA Championship winner Jason Dufner out with injuries and Dustin Johnson, who took a leave of absence.

Source: AFP