The friendship between Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy was recently strained when McDowell revealed that McIlroy is on the verge of splitting with their Dublin based management company, Horizon.

McIlroy refused to publicly admit his intention to leave the firm he has been signed to since leaving International Sports Management in October 2011 but McDowell, who remains with Horizon, told reporters of the imminent break-up during the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria.

When reporters approached McIlroy after practice for the BMW PGA Championship and asked if he had any comment to make on the Horizon affair, he replied sharply, "Ask G-Mac, he knows more than me," clearly referring to McDowell’s comments on the split during the Championships, writes the Independent.

When informed of his fellow Ulsterman's remark, McDowell said: "Well listen, it's not my problem.
"It's his problem. I'll speak to Rory later and we'll have a conversation.

"I'm very sorry he feels that way. I was in contact with him over the weekend explaining my scenario and the predicament he and Horizon both put me in because, obviously, they have things to sort out themselves."

When asked about the reasons behind his split with Horizon, McIlroy said, "I can't really comment on it. I don't want to get myself in a position I don't want to be in. The truth will all come out one day and I guess you'll just have to be patient,” writes the Guardian, “I can't comment on speculation at this point. You guys [the media] know that something is up, that's fair enough, but at this point I can't really say much more."

The friends seem to be willing to put their differences behind them however, with McIlroy admitting that he had spoken to Graeme on Tuesday afternoon:

"We got back to the hotel and had a good chat. Everything is good. I am great friends with Graeme. He has been like a big brother to me on tour,” the Guardian reports, “I remember playing practice rounds with him at the Dunhill Links, for example, back in 2007, when I got my card. He really showed me the ropes out here for a couple of years; it's great to have friends on tour and he is obviously somebody that I consider a very good friend."