Northern Ireland phenom Rory McIlroy raised Ryder Cup captain Colin Montgomerie's eyebrows--if not his ire--when McIlroy suggested the Ryder Cup was an "exhibition" and not as important as individual victories.

"The Ryder Cup, it's a great spectacle for golf, but an exhibition at the end of the day and it should be there to be enjoyed," McIlroy said at an Irish Open news conference. "I think if I get on it, you know, you enjoy the week, and if you win or lose, it's a great experience and you move on from it. In the big scheme of things, it's not that important of an event for me."

When these comments were relayed to Montgomerie--Team Europe's 2010 captain and a Ryder Cup playing legend--Montgomerie said that McIlroy will feel differently when he makes his first tee shot as a member of Team Europe.

"Rory will understand when; and it's not an if, I'm sure it's when, whether it's this time or next time wherever it might be and he will be a Ryder Cup player and he will understand the pressures involved and the whole scenario of The Ryder Cup will hit him very hard, yes, and he'll understand having not played in it and having not attended The Ryder Cup as yet, in his life, and he'll understand what it's about when he's part of that," Montgomerie said.

No one knows a feud like the famously prickly Montgomerie and he was careful not to start one with 19-year-old McIlroy.

"I haven't heard what Rory said, so please don't start a big war against Rory McIlroy," Montgomerie said. "He's a great player and he's a very exciting player and he's one of Europe's best young talents that we've had for many, many a year, right? All I can say to you is you ask me, is the Ryder Cup an exhibition, no, it's not an exhibition, all right. So please don't say, and hopefully, that it won't come from me, that Monty and Rory are having a war here. Please don't say that, because I haven't said that, and all I've said is The Ryder Cup is not an exhibition and it never will be."

McIlroy and Montgomerie are paired for the opening rounds Thursday and Friday, so they'll have plenty of time to talk it out. In fact, when you look at this field, which includes Padraig Harrington and John Daly, it's clear that the European Tour is the event to watch this weekend. (Sorry Valero Texas Open.)