McDowell and McIlroy were both a little more relaxed talking to Clarke than each other, but they chatted easily enough several times and it appears reports of a rift are exaggerated.

They even laughed about their earnings - when Watson asked how it felt to have won almost £50m in tour prize money between them McDowell joked that it wasn’t evenly split: “£48m for Rory and £1m each for me and Darren!”

All three acknowledged that they have been lucky to be so richly rewarded but insisted it wasn’t the primary motivator.

“The money’s great, but it’s not what it’s about,” said McIlroy.

“It’s about titles, about history. It’s about what impact you’ve had on your sport and on other people.”

They all emphasised the importance of family in their lives, with Clarke understandably emotional when discussing his sons and bringing the Claret Jug home to them.

“After all the lads had been through, to bring that joy into their lives was incredible.”

With both Clarke and McDowell married with children attention turned to McIlroy’s private life in the aftermath of his very public break-up from Caroline Wozniacki.

“Golf is my girlfriend for now,” he insisted. “We do so much travelling. I’m putting golf first - for the foreseeable future that’s how it’s going to be.”

The golfers also discussed the downsides of fame and acknowledged that lack of privacy was an issue for them all.

“It’s getting harder and harder, mobile phones mean there are cameras everywhere now,” said Clarke.

McIlroy agreed adding: “Every single person is a media outlet.

“You always have that shield up. You know, if you put the slightest foot wrong, you’ll get jumped on. You’re judged all the time.”

That attention can have positive benefits too though, and the programme showed clips of the charity work all three are involved in.

McIlroy supports a respite centre for sick children in Down, McDowell works to fundraise for Crumlin children’s hospital and Clarke has run a foundation to support young golfers.

Ironically, one of the graduates of that foundation was sitting with him.

“I’m a product of Darren’s foundation,” said McIlroy, describing annual trips to camps run by Clarke as a highlight of the year for young golfers.

Both Padraig Harrington and Tiger Woods had also been interviewed separately for the show.

Woods was open in his delight at Clarke’s Major win, “It was incredible after all he’d been through.”

The American felt that Irish golfers had a huge natural advantage.

“Growing up playing links golf definitely does help,” said Woods, “they learn how to play differently, play more shots, chip shots.”

Harrington spoke of the high standard in Irish golf and the levels of aspiration there are amongst up-and-coming golfers.

“If you’re the number one sprinter in Ireland you won’t necessarily win the Olympics, but if you excel (in golf) in Ireland you can excel around the world.”

Inevitably talk turned to the Ryder Cup and potential pairings. Both McDowell and McIlroy were relaxed about whether or not they played together and were keen to play down any significance to the decision.

“There’s normally a queue out the door to play with Rory,” laughed McDowell.

One thing they were agreed on was Clarke’s suitability as a future Ryder Cup captain.

McIlroy felt that with the next tournament taking place in the US it only made sense to take advantage of Clarke’s popularity there.

“He’ll be just as well-received as the US captain.”

The lads may be talking about 2016, but European golf fans are more concerned with this year’s Ryder Cup.

The sight of two of Europe’s finest relaxed and focused in the run-up to the competition bodes well for the weekend’s action.