Paul McGinley has criticised his Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey for using the word 'hate' about Americans.
On the eve of the World Cup in Spain, where McGinley partners Padraig Harrington for Ireland and Casey links up with Luke Donald for England, Casey's comments following the Ryder Cup have inevitably hit the headlines.
"We properly hate them - we wanted to beat them as badly as possible," said the 27-year-old, who also admits he was surprised by the appointment of Tom Lehman as captain for the 2006 match in Ireland following the controversy he was involved in five years ago.
Lehman was among those who over-reacted when Justin Leonard sank a long putt and before Jose Maria Olazabal had a chance to keep the match alive.
Casey was at pains prior to practising in Seville today to insist that, with an American girlfriend, coach and home, he does not tar everybody in the United States with the same brush.
But he does not deny saying the words during an hour-long interview with a Sunday newspaper journalist and he sticks by his opinion that Americans ought to travel the world more and not be so insular.
While Donald backed him on that McGinley commented: "Hate is a bad word to use - a terrible thing in sport. I don't want to stir up any animosity.
"And I'm not surprised by Lehman being made captain. I have no idea what went on at Brookline, but I've always found him to be a perfect gentleman."
Harrington, who was a member of the 1999 team, added: "They got over-excited, but that's great and you've got to imagine the pressure they were under. Every time I've dealt with Tom Lehman he's been excellent - I think he's a good choice and will do a good job.
None of the American Ryder Cup team is competing this week - Scott Verplank and Bob Tway represent them instead - but they are not alone in opting out of an event offering a first prize of $1.4million.
At eighth in the world Harrington is the leading player present. Vijay Singh's absence means Fiji are not even among the 24 nations, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen have stayed away again and Mike Weir's decision sees Canada field Stuart Anderson and Darren Griff, respectively ranked 737th and 828th.
Scotland have Scott Drummond and Alastair Forsyth - in for Colin Montgomerie, who has chosen to play in an over-40s event in America - and Wales call on Phillip Price and Bradley Dredge.
Ireland are not as strong as they could be since Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell are both ranked above McGinley, but seven years on from winning in South Carolina they are among the favourites again.
Sergio Garcia and Miguel Angel Jimenez are, on paper, the strongest pair.
