LEE WESTWOOD HAS moved to dispel rumours of a rift with Rory McIlroy, claiming he would like to partner the 23-year-old at the Ryder Cup.

Speculation of a feud started after McIlroy left International Sports Management last year, the company that has represented Westwood for 20 years.

But in the lead-up to the Ryder Cup, which starts at Medinah Country Club on September 25, Westwood has revealed he discussed playing alongside McIlroy during the BMW Championship.

“We were talking about it as we were going around Crooked Stick,” Westwood said.  ”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.”

Westwood has made it clear he has no problem with McIlroy and laughed off suggestions the Northern Irishman’s decision to quit the business of former golfer Andrew ‘Chubby’ Chandler as a cause of friction.

“There is nothing there,” Westwood said. ”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.”

Westwood believes a Ryder Cup partnership between him and McIlroy would be very successful.

“There is nothing between us personally that would get in the way,” Westwood said. ”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,” he added.

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