Two of the most outspoken golfers on each side of the LIV Golf vs. the-rest-of-the-golf-world debate were at the same place at the same time this week, and not surprisingly, the first glimpse of Patrick Reed and Rory Mcilroy in public was frosty.
An absolute melee!! pic.twitter.com/kCaI5UnHrD
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) January 25, 2023
It’s important to see the footage before getting sucked into some reports that made this seem like a heated confrontation! But evidently, Reed flicked a tee—which was emblazoned with the logo of his 4 Aces team from LIV Golf—in McIlroy’s direction after shaking hands with McIlroy’s caddie, Harry Diamond.
Each had something to say about the brief exchange as they both prepared for the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic.
McIlroy explained:
“I was down by my bag and he came up to me, and I was busy working and sort of doing my practice, and I didn’t really feel like — I didn’t feel the need to acknowledge him.”
“I just didn’t want to talk to him.”
Rory McIlroy plays down talk of a confrontation with Patrick Reed ahead of this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic.pic.twitter.com/LwT9faQvlQ
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) January 25, 2023
“So I didn’t see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently that’s what happened. And if roles were reversed and I’d have of thrown that tee at him, I’d be expecting a lawsuit.”
McIlroy went on to say that he was served a subpoena on Christmas Eve from Reed’s attorney, who has been very busy over the past several months.
McIlroy said:
“I’m living in reality. I don’t know where he’s living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake.”
When asked about the incident, Reed said:
“He saw me and he decided not to not to react. It’s unfortunate because we’ve always had a good relationship. But it is one of those things – if you’re going to act like an immature little child then you might as well be treated like one.”
Reed is among a dozen LIV Golf pros entered in the Dubai Desert Classic. While they await a legal ruling, LIV players are allowed in DP World Tour events for the time being.
Cover Image Via Twitter
