Throughout a Ryder Cup prelude characterised thus far by cagey mutual respect, Phil Mickelson has tossed the first jibe at his European opponents by joking that the Americans “don’t litigate” against each other.

An ongoing legal battle between Rory McIlroy and his former management group Horizon saw his long-time friend and Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell drawn into the fray after he was named in connection with the case. Both have insisted there is no ongoing problem between them, but McDowell has admitted it has been a “strain” on their relationship and caused tension.

In answer to a question about the oft-aired assumption that the Americans find it hard to play together, Mickelson, who is playing in his 10th Ryder Cup, said with a smile: “Well, 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.”

Mickelson said the USA team spirit among Tom Watson’s men could help them upset the odds and win the Ryder Cup on foreign soil for the first time since 1993. “We really have a great group of guys. We have a lot of fun together. We really have had some fun these first few days together. I think we have some really high-quality players,” said the four-time major winner, warming to his theme.

“Now, obviously the European side does, too, and I know they are favoured and I know what great players they are, but we are having a lot of fun together. Hopefully that will bring out our best golf.”

McIlroy and McDowell have partnered each other six times in the Ryder Cup but Europe’s captain, Paul McGinley, has said he might split them up, while insisting any decision to do so would not be related to the legal dispute. “It’s not an issue and it’s not been an issue for me in terms of Ryder Cup captaincy over the last year, certainly, since these court proceedings started,” he said on Monday.

“Both of them have assured me all along that there’s no issues and that’s the way I’ve always seen it. Whether they come together or not is another story. Three or four months ago, I had a very strong view that they would have been, but the more I look at their statistics and the more I look at the different value I have with them, I’m thinking there may be a value in not doing it.”

McGinley also said on Wednesday that he had no problem with McIlroy using a new driver for the first time at Gleneagles, underlining his trust in his players. “I’d never dream of giving a player a lesson or telling them what to do. They make their own decisions, they’re top players and that’s why they are here.”

The European captain was reluctant to give too much away about Sir Alex Ferguson’s motivational speech to his players on Tuesday night for fear it could give the opposition an insight into his thinking. “I think it went very well,” said McGinley. “He had some very powerful messages that we had agreed he was going to be talking about, and relating to the football, but at the same time it was a bit of fun, it was a bit of banter, there was Q&A and it was very relaxed.”