RORY McILROY will have a chance to silence Phil Mickelson’s barbs with golfing triumph this morning in the opening session of the 40th Ryder Cup.

The US veteran had a dig at McIlroy and Europe teammate Graeme McDowell who have found themselves on the opposite sides of the Northern Irishman’s bid to sue his former management company.

Both players and captain Paul McGinley have allayed any concerns but in trying to accentuate the togetherness of the US team Mickelson joked about the issue.

“Not only are we able to play together, we also don’t litigate against each other and that’s a real plus, I feel, heading into this week,” said the 44-year-old yesterday, who added with a wry smile: “I couldn’t resist.”

The broadside was not wholly on target — McIlroy’s problem is with Horizon, which McDowell is leaving on altogether better terms this year.

And Mickelson may have been better to leave legal issues under wraps having been forced to deny any wrongdoing in the course of an FBI insider share trading probe.

Former US Open winner Michael Rose insisted Mickelson was on a fool’s errand trying to stir up trouble inside the European camp.

“In our team room it’s a non-issue,” he said.

“I’ve been observing Rory and G-Mac too and they have been getting on great, playing golf together and hanging out.

“The atmosphere has been fantastic in our team room. Of course it was mentioned last night and Phil came up to Rory and it was no real big deal.

“It’s banter and nothing more serious than that.”

But despite the lack of acrimony, Gleneagles is sure to see some exciting action over the coming week.

World number one McIlroy and Spain’s Sergio Garcia have been kept until last in the opening fourballs by captain Paul McGinley and will take on Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, who won all three of their matches together at Medinah in 2012.

Another pairing from Chicago, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson and wild-card Webb Simpson, will take on Rose and Henrik Stenson in the opening clash at 7.35am, followed by Rickie Fowler and Jimmy Walker against Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn and Medinah hero Martin Kaymer.

The third match sees Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed take on home favourite Stephen Gallacher and Europe’s Ryder Cup talisman Ian Poulter, who has won 11 of his last 12 matches in the biennial contest.