Westwood denies Rory rift

Lee Westwood has dismissed talk of a feud with Rory McIlroy and is open to the possibility of partnering him at the Ryder Cup.

There have been reports of a rift between the pair since McIlroy quit the management company Westwood has been with for 20 years, with the two then exchanges views over the split on Twitter.

Westwood says they remain friends and would love to play alongside the world number one in Medinah next week.

Referring to a conversation the pair had at the BMW Championship two weeks ago, he told the Daily Telegraph: "We were talking about it as we were going around Crooked Stick.

"I said to him 'have you had any thoughts about who you are playing with a Medinah? Because if nobody else wants to play with you and you're desperate, I really don't mind filling in'.

"We had a laugh about that. There is nothing there. Fans must watch us having banter on the course thinking 'so where is this grudge?'

"So he left the management company I'm with. So what? It was a business decision. There is nothing personal with me.

"There is nothing between us personally that would get in the way. Who wouldn't want to play with Rory when he's in this nick.

"I'd love to. It'd be good. In fact, it would probably be way better than good, particularly in the four balls. We'd make a ton of birdies."