Looking at Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy now, it's clear that both men have a huge amount of admiration for each other both on and off the course.
The pair have been teammates on a few occasions in recent times, starring at both the Ryder Cup and the Olympics in Irish colours. As well as that, they live nearby each other in Jupiter, Florida, where their families spend quite a bit of time together.
Looking at their relationship now and when you consider the standing of both players in Irish golf, it's difficult to think that there was not much of a friendship there to speak of for a number of years.
Lowry and McIlrory crossed paths on the Irish golf scene reuglarly during their amateur days, although they were not particularly close during this period. They would spend a bit more time together after both turning pro, although that was soon brought to a half after McIlroy's issues with Horizon Sports came to the fore.
With Lowry also represented by the agency that the Holywood native was in a legal battle with, it all but ended the budding relationship between the pair for a number of years.
The legal case between McIlroy and Horizon would ultimately be settled in 2015.
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Shane Lowry embarrassed by actions during Rory McIlroy falling out
With Rory McIlroy unhappy with the way he had been treated by Horizon Sports and agent Conor Ridge during this period, it left Shane Lowry in an awkward spot.
In an enthralling interview with Paul Kimmage alongside McIlroy in the Sunday Independent, the Offaly man admits that he felt he had to pick a side in the feud. He also wishes he had conducted himself better with his now close friend around this time.
It was a shitshow, because Conor [Ridge] has always been good to me and it was almost as if I had to pick a side, so I was in a tough place with Rory.
We went from friends to being acquaintances and it was just ... awkward. I mean, I’m ‘L’ and he’s ‘M’ and our lockers were beside each other at every tournament!
I hate talking about it, and to be honest I’m happy Rory is not sitting here because I remember a practice round in Carnoustie before the Dunhill — it must have been 2014 — and seeing him on the tee, and waiting in the clubhouse until he was gone, which is bullshit when you think about it.
I mean for f**k sake! Just shite!
28 June 2013; Rory McIlroy, right, and Shane Lowry shake hands on the 18th green after their rounds at the Irish Open Golf Championship 2013. Carton House, Maynooth, Co. Kildare. Picture credit: Matt Browne / SPORTSFILE
An Irish Independent subscription is required to read this interview in full, but it is certainly worth it.
It goes into detail about the relationship between the pair, as well as that infamous incident involving them both at this year's Ryder Cup. It is certainly interesting to hear how the two golfers view the effects that their close friendship has had on both of them.
From McIlroy's point of view, he said that after the pair cleared the air on a night out back in 2015, Lowry has had a huge role to play in his personal life.
I feel over the last couple of years that Shane’s been one of my biggest advocates. He’s a great person to be around, and a really good influence on me.
There’s parts of Shane that I really love; I see how he lives his life; I see how he is with his girls, and the relationships he has with the people from home that are still close to him.
He enjoys his life and everything he’s worked for, and I think spending time with him makes me a better version of myself.
Kind words.
Both Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy are top class sportsmen and people, so it is interesting to hear how they could be dragged down a route they did not feel comfortable with as a result of some contrasting interests.
It's great to see that all of that is in the past now.
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