There is absolutely no love lost between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed. McIlroy was seen at the driving range on Tuesday at the Dubai Desert Classic, and had no time at all for Reed when the latter approached him on the course.
“Patrick came up to say hello, and I didn't want him to,” McIlroy said Wednesday, according to ESPN. “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.”
The jab comes after Reed reportedly threw a tee towards McIlroy earlier this week, although the four-time major winner said he didn't see or feel anything.
“But apparently that's what happened,” McIlroy said. “And if roles were reversed and I'd have thrown that tee at him, I'd be expecting him [to file] a lawsuit.” McIlroy was served a subpoena by Reed's lawyers on Christmas Eve, and the latter refiled a defamation lawsuit last month.
“Of course, trying to have a nice time with my family and someone shows up on your doorstep and delivers that, you're not going to take that well,” McIlroy said.
It's one of many strained relationships between PGA Tour golfers and those who have broken off to the LIV Tour, including Reed. McIlroy is one of the most vocal critics of the Saudi-backed series that “changed the face of golf in 2022.”
“Rory just looked down there and was messing with his Trackman and kind of decided to ignore us,” Reed said about the exchange on Wednesday. “We all knew where it came from — being part of LIV. Since my tees are Team Aces LIV tees, I flicked him one. It was kind of a funny shot back. Funny how a small little flick has turned into basically me stabbing him.”
Reed says before the breakaway, the two had always had a good relationship, but Reed said if Rory McIlroy wants to act like an “immature little child…then you might as well be treated like one.”
Clearly, there is no longer a relationship between the two players, as the PGA Tour and LIV Golf series continue to cause drama in 2023.
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