McIlroy, McDowell hit back Mickelson telling American 'at least they are not wanted by FBI'

Irish golf aces Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell have hit back at Ryder Cup rival Phil Mickelson by telling him that at least they are not wanted by the FBI in response to the American's quip about the legal dispute they are on opposite sides of.

McIlroy and Mickelson, who will do battle on the course in Friday morning's fourballs as the Europe versus USA showpiece begins, stoked up by a war of words that has become intensely personal.

Mickelson turned up the heat on Wednesday by having a dig at the ongoing court case involving world world number one McIlroy and long-time friend, countryman and regular Ryder Cup partner McDowell. And now the two golfers have taken a swing back at the most senior player on the USA team by bringing up an FBI probe into his alleged insider trading, The Mirror reported.

McIroy and Mickelson, both Major champions, will go head-to-head in a heavyweight fourball clash on Friday morning also involving Sergio Garcia and Keegan Bradley. McIlroy revealed that he got a couple of jabs back at the American at the gala dinner, adding that he knows Mickelson well and they had a couple of laughs about it, and took it well.

The Northern Irishman said that he and McDowell confronted Mickelson at the gala dinner and he had a couple of goes, adding that it was all good fun.

McDowell said that McIlroy and he are very comfortable with the situation at this point, adding that Mickelson obviously hasn't really read any of the quotes over the last couple of weeks and he was poking a little fun.

McDowell said that so did they bring up the FBI, adding that they didn't mention that at all. He said that he does not think the FBI has any jurisdiction here in Scotland, adding that it was a bit of a wind-up.

Mickelson has been cleared in one case, though the investigation continues, the report added.