“I’m living in reality. I don’t know where he’s living.”
Rory McIlroy insists reports of his practice range meeting with Patrick Reed are ‘a storm in a tea-cup’ but followed it up with quotes that show real animosity between the pair.
At the Emirates Golf Club range, on Tuesday, Reed attempted to speak with McIlroy but was blanked. The pair are on either side of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf divide, which has seen several LIV stars suing the tour and claiming their livelihoods have been affected by not being able to compete freely as independent contractors.
Late last year, McIlroy – a strong PGA Tour member and advocator – said his stomach would be turning at the prospect of teeing it up with LIV Gold defectors, including Reed, at Wentworth.
Asked about the incident by reporters in Dubai, McIlroy said, “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 thrown that tee at him, I’d be expecting a lawsuit.”
It took 24 hours for the ‘tee-throw’ moment to show up online and footage suggests it was not as fiery as expected. That McIlroy snub is a hard one, too:
Apparent footage of the Rory Reed tee 'throwing' incident. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/r35kjE6hO8
— Golf Tips Checker (@GolfTipsChecker) January 25, 2023
‘Can you see yourself maybe, one day, mending those bridges with Patrick?’
At a Wednesday press conference before the Dubai Desert Classic tournament gets into full swing, a reporter that clearly sided with Patrick Reed on the minor flare-up asked Rory McIlroy if he could see the American’s side of the story.
McIlroy sat and listened to the long-winded question before not verbally responding. He made a couple of faces as the moderator asked for the next question.
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterCBS) January 25, 2023
When Sky Sports caught up with the Holywood native, they found him in a more talkative mood:
"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/awCQgVcBzY
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 25, 2023
“I was subpoenaed by [Patrick Reed’s] lawyer on Christmas Eve,” Rory McIlroy explained.
“So 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. 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.”
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