McIlroy and Reed have always had a testy relationship.
Having been blanked by Rory McIlroy on the driving range at the Emirates golf club in Dubai, it is being reported that former US Masters champion Patrick Reed threw a tee in the Northern Irish man's direction in disgust.
The Texan had acknowledged McIlroy's caddie Harry Diamond, according to the
Irish Independent, before approaching McIlroy who at that moment was on his hunkers.
Reed made a point of saluting the world number one but according to the report, McIlroy didn't turn his head. Reed then walked away but not before throwing a tee in McIlroy's direction.
It's not the first time the pair have clashed, Reed having hit out at
McIlroy last year on the basis of his comments about the LIV golf tour.
McIlroy had said before the 2022 BMW PGA Wentworth that seeing those 18 LIV golfers tee it up on the same course was going to be "hard (for him) to stomach)" given that they had signed up for the so-called 'rebel-tour'. Reed found these comments insulting.
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Happier times for the pair last June[/caption]
"I feel like Rory making those types of comments is insulting,” he said.
“Let’s be honest, I’ve [played the DP World Tour] more consistently than some of the Europeans on the PGA Tour.”
“These other guys sitting there and talking saying you can’t play two tours, that’s hypocritical as ever, these guys are playing the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour."
It's clear that some of the hostility still remains.
The pair also played out a famously fiery singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup, with Reed coming out on top on the final hole. That was McIlroy's first time ever to lose a singles match at the Ryder Cup, and the point helped the US to a 17-11 win over the Europeans in that competition.
Reed hasn't hit those highs in recent times, however, and has since dropped to 90th in the world rankings. Both players will tee it up in the Dubai Desert Classic this week.
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