DDC: After the world No. 1 reportedly refused to speak to the American before the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy claimed that Patrick Reed was “not living in reality” and that he should.
Reed, who joined the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf series last summer and is currently involved in a number of legal battles, said that McIlroy disregarded him on the driving range in the days leading up to the Rolex Series competition at Emirates Golf Club.
The hearing for the arbitration lawsuit between the DP World Tour and the 2018 Masters champion is scheduled to start next month. The complaint concerns sanctions imposed for competing in the debut LIV Golf event in England last June.
The attorney defending the American in that case also sent McIlroy and Tiger Woods with subpoenas for their participation in the players-only meeting that took place before the BMW Championship in August. Reed has filed a defamation lawsuit against a number of media outlets and individuals.
When asked if Reed was being naive to assume a warm reception in the present circumstances, McIlroy said to Sky Sports: “His attorney served a summons on me on Christmas Eve.
“So it seems to reason that you wouldn’t take it well if you were trying to enjoy yourself with your family when someone showed up at your door and delivered that.
“I’m a real person, and I have no idea where he resides. I wouldn’t anticipate a handshake or a greeting if I were in his position.”
The subpoenas are a part of a civil case brought by Larry Klayman in June, which alleges that the PGA Tour injured Florida residents who had purchased or would have purchased tickets to PGA Tour tournaments by allegedly weakening fields by suspending players who joined LIV.
Tee incident “Something that is nothing”
According to a report on the Spanish website ten-golf.com, Reed allegedly threw a tee at the four-time major champion after being passed over, though McIlroy downplayed the incident.
In response to a question about what had transpired, McIlroy remarked in his pre-tournament news conference: “He came up to me down by my bag, and I was working and sort of doing my practice, and I didn’t really feel like… I didn’t feel compelled to thank him.
“I certainly didn’t see a tee going in my direction, but that is what reportedly happened. And I would be anticipating a lawsuit if the tables had been turned and I had thrown that tee at him.”
Prior to the DP World Tour competition, talk about McIlroy’s argument with Reed predominated, but former Ryder Cup player Andrew Coltart wonders why the incident was receiving so much attention.
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