Virtually everyone knows how Rory McIlroy feels when it comes to the LIV circus and the band of defectors performing on that exhibition tour.
Apparently Patrick Reed, the Chief Villain and Former Cheater-In-Chief on the PGA Tour, thought it was a good idea to greet Rory over on the practice ground at the Emirates Golf Club earlier this week.
Of course the world No. 1 gave Reed the old Northern Ireland Cold Shoulder and Reed, undeterred, tried to glad-hand Rory’s buddy and bag-toter — Harry Diamond. Rory kept up the snub and of course it didn’t sit well with the old Sand-Swiper Himself.
Reed dug into his pocket, pulled out a tee and threw it at Rory, according to onlookers who saw the incident. Now if Rory had done that to Reed, no doubt Reed would be filing yet another lawsuit, charging McIlroy with assault.
McIlroy was asked about it and basically poo-pooed it as a non-story. “Patrick came up to say hello and I didn’t really want him to,” McIlroy said. “From my recollection, that was it. I didn’t see a tee. I didn’t feel a tee. Obviously someone else saw that. But it’s definitely a storm in a teacup. Obviously nothing — I can’t believe it’s actually turned into a story.”
Things can get a bit chilly when you put these LIV defectors in the same event with The Defender Of The Faith (aka Rory McIlroy). Rory’s been more than vocal when it comes to criticizing LIV and The Defectors. As for Reed, he keeps filing lawsuits against anyone who has told the truth about his on-course bendings of the Rules Of Golf. Last week a federal judge in Florida dismissed one of Reeds complaints. What a surprise!
Interesting to note that Reed missed the cut at last week’s DP World Tour event in Abu Dhabi.
As for Rory, the world’s No. 1 has some unfinished business at the Emirates Golf Club. He was right in the thick of the battle at this event last year on the back nine before finding the water at the 18th. He finished with a bogey and missed out on the playoff by a shot. to surrender a bogey there and miss out on a play-off by one shot. Viktor Hovland and LIV Defector Richard Bland tied at 12-under and Hovland won the playoff.
McIlroy was the winner in Dubai in 2009 and 2015. “It’s really nice to be back,” McIlroy said. “I’ve had a lot of great memories here and success over the years at the Emirates but feel like I have a little bit of unfinished business with how the tournament ended for me last year here.
“It wasn’t quite the way I wanted to finish it off,” McIlroy continued, “but I went on from that week and played really well and had a great year.
“It’s been nice to try to take a little bit of time away, and try to sort of distance myself from the game of golf for at least a month or two, and sort of recharge and reset and try to start 2023 with renewed optimism and a sort of full tank and ready to go.
“I’m sure there will be a little bit of rust to start the week but hopefully I can shake that off. I’ve got a great record here, so I have great confidence in that.”
McIlroy will play the first two rounds with Tommy Fleetwood and Ryan Fox.
