Intro:

Justin Rose gave his reaction on Thursday (September 25th) - the eve of the 40th Ryder Cup at Gleneagles - to Phil Mickelson's comment on the relationship between Europe team-mates Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Justin Rose (on Phil Mickelson's comment that players in the USA team do not litigate against each other - a reference to the legal action involving Rory McIlroy and the management company that represents Graeme McDowell):

"Of course, it's a bit of banter and just getting things going and, we don't have a problem with that at all. It's all.... there's no real angst between the players from that point of view at all and in our team room it's a non issue. I've obviously been observing Rory and G-Mac (McDowell) too and they've been getting on great and playing golf together and hanging out and having dinners together and, the atmosphere's been fantastic in our team room. Of course, yes it was mentioned last night and, Phil came up to Rory last night and was like 'hey,' this and that. It's no big deal. I think.... obviously someone says something, but I don't.... I'd call it banter and nothing more serious than that."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Justin Rose (on Ian Poulter):

"He's playing well, he really is, and I know people say he hasn't had a great season, but he's sort of on the verge of playing very, very well and he just needs a spark and, the spark could well be the Ryder Cup, obviously this week, and, he's playing good clean golf in practice and, just for example, we were having a skins game yesterday and he was shut out until the 17th hole - and the caddies were beginning to give him a lot of stick about 'duck egg' and 'quack, quack,' 'cause he didn't have a skin and then he goes and birdies 17 and holes a bunker shot at the last to take the last four skins and he's in his element. So, when his back's against the wall he normally produces, which is great."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Justin Rose (asked whether the focus on Rory McIlroy and Ian Poulter takes the pressure off him):

"It could well help me. I mean I haven't thought about it, so therefore, does that help me? Yes, it probably frees up my mind just to focus on the task and the job at hand and, I think the fact that Rory and Poulter (have been) targeted (by the USA) might help them too. So, that's the way we're hoping it will pan out anyway."