Rory McIlroy has revealed the truth behind his reported spat with Patrick Reed, after the LIV Golf man 'threw a tee' at the Northern Irishman. McIlroy is in action for the first time in 2023 this week, competing on the DP World Tour at the Dubai Desert Classic.

The event is one the Northern Irishman knows well, having been crowned champion on two separate occasions, with his victory in 2009 his first ever on tour. This year's edition of the tournament proves to be a controversial one though.

This comes after a number of LIV Golf defectors entered the United Arab Emirates-based event, despite the Saudi-backed series' ongoing battle with the DP World Tour.

One man who has been a huge critic of the LIV model is McIlroy, and this has been well documented. One of his rivals on the other side of golf's civil war is Reed, and the American is one of the defectors competing in Dubai this week.

Tensions were reportedly high in practice, after it was alleged Reed thew a tee at the four-time major champion for failing to acknowledge him on the range. One day after the drama, McIlroy has opened up on what exactly happened between the pair.

Claiming he did not see a tee thrown, the Northern Irishman said: "I didn't see it. I was down by my bag and he came up to me, and I was busy working and sort of doing my practise, and I didn't really feel like - I didn't feel the need to acknowledge him."

Over recent months Reed has filed a whole host of lawsuits against a number of figures in the game of golf, accusing them of defamation. Seemingly pointing a joking reference to this, McIlroy added: "I didn't see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently, that's what happened.

"If roles were reversed and I'd have of thrown that tee at him, I'd be expecting a lawsuit from him.”

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McIlroy himself has found himself wound up in Reed's legal drama, with the four-time major champion receiving a subpoena from the American's lawyer on Christmas Eve. As a result, the Northern Irishman admitted this was one reason why he gave his rival the cold shoulder during Tuesday's practice.

"I mean, I got a subpoena on Christmas Eve. I mean, I don't see your - like - you can't pretend like nothing's happening, right. I think that's the thing... Yeah, I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve. 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.

"So again, 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.”