Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau have been exchanging blows ahead of the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black outside New York.
DeChambeau has said that he will chirp in McIlroy's ear, who has responded by saying that the American only mentions McIlroy's name to get attention.
But when Rory McIlroy held a press conference on Thursday, he was not particularly keen on talking more about the rivalry.
I promised Luke (Donald, the captain) that I would only talk about the European team today. I will stick to that, says the Northern Irishman.
It's so easy to get caught up in different narratives this week, to get swept up in all the talk about rivalries and the Ryder Cup and all that. All I want to do is try to get blue points (for Europe) on the scoreboard. I don't care who it's against.
Rory McIlroy believes at the same time that it would be good for the prestigious meeting if the two giants get to meet in a match.
I think it would be great – wonderful for the competition and wonderful for us too, in a way.
McIlroy and DeChambeau have fought a couple of tough battles in major contexts in recent years. Last year's US Open was won by DeChambeau after a slight collapse from McIlroy, who got his revenge in the spring when the duo was in the lead ball on Sunday when the US Masters was decided.
He didn't talk to me once during the entire day, said DeChambeau after the decisive round at Augusta.
The Ryder Cup is played on Friday–Sunday. Ludvig Åberg is one of twelve players in Europe's team, which is the defending champion after winning in Rome two years ago.
