SHANGHAI, October 28, 2011 (AFP) - World golf number two Lee Westwood attempted Friday to end the "Chubbygate" saga casting a shadow over his brittle friendship with rival Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy, the world number three, dumped their joint agent Andrew "Chubby" Chandler for the Dublin-based Horizon stable last week, prompting Westwood to describe the move as a "bizarre decision" on the social network Twitter.
A press conference question during the Lake Malaren Shanghai Masters about an alleged rift between the stars was met with a long pause from Westwood, 38, before he denied causing ill-feeling between the pair.
"What Rory does in his business life and his golf life really has nothing to do with me. It's up to him to make his own plans. Rory's change of management is up to him," said Westwood.
Widespread claims the pair had become estranged surrounded their provocative first round pairing at the unsanctioned Shanghai tournament, which offers $2 million to the winner -- the largest cash prize in professional golf.
McIlroy's new management team have ordered their 22-year-old charge to keep silent about his shock move at the event.
But chatter among fellow professional golfers about the alleged rift continues, with McIlroy's fellow Northern Irish stars Graeme McDowell and Darren Clarke wading into the controversy.
McDowell earlier this week insisted he played no part in McIlroy's decision to join him at Horizon, while Clarke denied Friday he might be next to jump ship from Chandler's England-based International Sports Management stable.