Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed spat explained as golf’s civil war explodes

new balance

free keto book

A tee casually flicked after Happy New Year greetings were snubbed. A subpoena served on Christmas Eve. A war of words featuring an ‘immature little child’ jibe.

Golf’s storm in a tee-cup between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed escalated very quickly on Wednesday as these two world-class golfers traded barbs before the American then made light of it, saying it has been turned into an ‘assassination’.

But it’s all part of the wider, fractured landscape within a sport that appears to be tearing itself apart. What on earth is going on?

The row between top golfers Patrick Reed (left) and Rory McIlroy (right) over a 'thrown' tee exploded on Wednesday as the pair traded barbs

The row between top golfers Patrick Reed (left) and Rory McIlroy (right) over a ‘thrown’ tee exploded on Wednesday as the pair traded barbs 

A player throwing a tee at another player? That could be dangerous…

Well, when reports first emerged that Reed had ‘thrown’ a tee at McIlroy on the driving range at the Dubai Desert Classic earlier this week, we assumed golf’s rumbling civil war had exploded into a flashpoint.

American Reed, 32, a former winner of the US Masters, joined the rebel LIV Golf tour last year and had perhaps taken exception to something McIlroy, 33 – the four-time Major winner from Northern Ireland and current world No 1 – had said or done.

After all, McIlroy has been one of the staunchest critics of the LIV breakaway, turning down the offer of a multi-million dollar contract, and has remained loyal to the United States-based PGA Tour.

Last August, McIlroy said: ‘I hate what it [LIV] is doing to the game of golf. I hate it, I really do.’ 

However, LIV, which is financed by the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, offered enormous sums of money that proved too tempting for stars like Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka.

They all broke away to play in the new tour, causing an enormous fracture within this usually genteel sport.  

Reed was among a number of leading golfers who defected to the rebel LIV series in 2022

Reed was among a number of leading golfers who defected to the rebel LIV series in 2022

McIlroy has remained loyal to the PGA Tour and has been an outspoken critic of the LIV series

McIlroy has remained loyal to the PGA Tour and has been an outspoken critic of the LIV series

So this flashpoint wasn’t quite as dramatic as all that?

Not exactly. On Wednesday, footage emerged of the moment in question and it’s fair to say ‘throw’ was swiftly downgraded to ‘flick’. 

Also, ‘at McIlroy’ could be more accurately described as ‘in the general direction of McIlroy and his team.’

The 12-second clip showed Reed walk up to McIlroy on the driving range at the Emirates Golf Club, where he was working with his coach Michael Bannon and caddie Harry Diamond.

Footage shows Patrick Reed (second right) approaching Rory McIlroy (left) in Dubai as the Northern Irishman stands with caddie Harry Diamond (second left) and coach Michael Bannon

Footage shows Patrick Reed (second right) approaching Rory McIlroy (left) in Dubai as the Northern Irishman stands with caddie Harry Diamond (second left) and coach Michael Bannon

After McIlroy ignores the American, Reed turns back to throw one of his tees at the world No 1

After McIlroy ignores the American, Reed turns back to throw one of his tees at the world No 1

Reed approached Diamond and shook his hand. McIlroy, meanwhile, was kneeling by his Trackman [a golf shot-measuring device], and didn’t really look up to acknowledge Reed. It’s impossible to know precisely what, if anything, was said.

Reed seems to linger for a second to see if McIlroy is going to respond, before turning away. He then pulls what we now know to be a tee from his pocket and kind of casually tosses it to the ground close to where McIlroy is crouching.

See also  Rome's gruelling course is perfect for a Gladiatorial Ryder Cup duel between Europe and the USA

The American glances back as he walks away to gauge if there’s going to be any reaction, but McIlroy either doses’t notice or doesn’t rise to it.

Anyway, nobody got hurt!

Reed is part of the 4 Aces team in the LIV Golf series and his tee featured their logo

Reed is part of the 4 Aces team in the LIV Golf series and his tee featured their logo

So, why all the fuss?

Most of the fireworks around the ‘incident’ came in the players’ press conferences.

On Wednesday, McIlroy took his turn to face the media. The story had come out by this point and, naturally, he was questioned about it.

Initially, when McIlroy was asked what had happened with Reed, he tried to dismiss it, saying ‘nothing.’

After all, quite a few players don’t want to be disturbed while they’re preparing to practise. Others don’t mind a natter with fellow pros on the course. 

But he continued: ‘Patrick came up to say hello and I didn’t really want him to. 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. I can’t believe it’s actually turned into a story. Yeah, it’s nothing.’

McIlroy plays a shot on the 18th hole at the Emirates Golf Club in front of the Dubai skyline

McIlroy plays a shot on the 18th hole at the Emirates Golf Club in front of the Dubai skyline

Storm in a tee-cup… very witty

That could have been the end of it. After all, him and Reed have enjoyed some epic battles down the years, including on the Sunday at the 2016 Ryder Cup, when Reed’s final hole birdie saw him snatch victory.

And, as was pointed out, McIlroy has actually defended Reed over various controversies in the past.

Reed, pictured winning the Masters in 2018, has had a compelling rivalry with McIlroy

Reed, pictured winning the Masters in 2018, has had a compelling rivalry with McIlroy

The American also got the better of McIlroy during a fiery singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup

The American also got the better of McIlroy during a fiery singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup

But in this tense post-LIV landscape, McIlroy couldn’t resist going on.

‘Yeah, I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve. So, of course, I’m 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.’

Woah, hang on… Reed is suing McIlroy??

That would be the natural conclusion to jump to given all the litigation flying around in golf at the moment. But that’s not the case.

Lawyer Larry Klayman is pursuing a $750million defamation lawsuit on Reed’s behalf against the Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.

McIlroy joked he'd 'expect a lawsuit' if he had thrown a tee toward Reed out in Dubai

See also  How Will Jay Monahan of the PGA Tour and Yasir al-Rumayyan Work Together?

McIlroy joked he’d ‘expect a lawsuit’ if he had thrown a tee toward Reed out in Dubai

Chamblee, a former PGA Tour player, has been an outspoken critic of the LIV Golf and the lawsuit claims he and others conspired to defend the PGA Tour by trying to discredit Reed after he joined the rebel tour.

It is believed the subpoena from Klayman is an attempt to compel McIlroy to testify on the contents of a meeting between PGA Tour players in Delaware last year.

Still, getting served an affidavit on Christmas Eve is pretty low…

Yep, and the evidence of that emerged on Twitter. It clearly says McIlroy was subpoenaed at 3.50pm on Christmas Eve at his home in Palm Beach, Florida.

And just as the good films are starting…

No wonder McIlroy also quipped in his press conference: ‘If roles were reversed and I’d have thrown that tee at him, I’d be expecting a lawsuit.’ Zing!

Was McIlroy the only one to get a knock at the door?

No, Davis Love III received his from Klayman on December 29th and there was an attempt to serve Tiger Woods as well – that didn’t go so well…

Tiger Woods proved more elusive when lawyers tried to subpoena him just after Christmas

Tiger Woods proved more elusive when lawyers tried to subpoena him just after Christmas 

Okay, so we’ve heard McIlroy’s version of events on ‘tee-gate’, so what about Reed?

Naturally he was also asked by journalists and he replied: ‘Because of the relationship I’ve had with Rory – let’s be honest, we’ve had some great battles at Augusta and other tournaments and our friendships have been pretty good until obviously joining LIV.

‘I walked over there and wished Harry [Diamond, the caddie] Happy New Year and then Rory because it’s the first time I have seen them.

‘Harry shook my hand and Rory just looked down there and was messing with his Trackman and kind of decided to ignore us. We all know where it came from – being part of LIV.’

Get to the bit about the tee, damn it…

‘Since my tees are Team Aces LIV tees I flicked him one. It was kind of a funny shot back.

‘Funny how a small little flick has turned into basically me stabbing him and throwing a tee at him.’

Reed insisted in his press conference that the Christmas Eve subpoena wasn't to do with him

Reed insisted in his press conference that the Christmas Eve subpoena wasn’t to do with him

Reed went on to say the Christmas Eve subpoena ‘had nothing to do with me’.

He added: ‘He saw me and he decided not to react. It’s unfortunate. But it is one of those things – if you’re going to act like an immature little child then you might as well be treated like one.’

Wow.

What else did Reed say?

He claimed McIlroy was ‘still bitter’ about something – which could be a reference to that Ryder Cup clash.

See also  Masters champion Jon Rahm hits back at talk of copying Rory McIlroy and missing RBC Heritage

On the prospect of a pairing with McIlroy during the Dubai Desert Classic this weekend, Reed added: ‘That would be great. I will tell you this much, there probably won’t be much talking.

‘Even if I said hello on the first [tee], he won’t say anything. I can just be respectful and as much as a gentleman as I can be. His choice if he doesn’t respond.’

So little chance of a reconciliation between the pair then?

Not judging by McIlroy’s bemused facial expression when asked in his press conference whether he would ‘mend bridges’ with Reed.

That said, the American revealed McIlroy was helpful on Thursday morning, even calling it a ‘little victory’, after the Northern Irishman let him know play was delayed due to heavy rain. 

‘I woke up at 5am and was on my way to get a car to get here for my 7.40am tee-off time,’ Reed explained. ‘I hadn’t seen that play had been suspended while they got all the water off the course after the storms. But when we were on steps of the hotel where we are both staying, Rory came up and said ‘you don’t have to go yet, we aren’t playing for a while’. ‘Ok, thanks,’ I said.

‘So, I went back to bed. It’s nice to think that this means that it’s all good again between me and Rory, but I was with my caddie and coach at the time, so he might have been telling them. Yet I’ve taken it as a little victory. It was nice to move on from all that today.

‘Honestly, what happened this week was really nothing but then it turned into the huge ‘tee-gate’ with assassination on both sides.

McIlroy's face when asked about the prospect of 'mending bridges' with Reed spoke volumes

McIlroy’s face when asked about the prospect of ‘mending bridges’ with Reed spoke volumes

The world of golf isn’t a happy place, is it?

No, it’s toxic. Next month, there will be an arbitration hearing to see if the LIV golfers can continue to play in DP World Tour events such as the one in Dubai.

They have already been banned altogether from playing the PGA Tour in the United States.

The picture internally at LIV is no less clear, with the second season of their circuit due to commence next month, though as yet they have announced no new players. World No 44 Mito Pereira is expected to cross over and it is believed the Saudi-backed tour are pushing for Belgium’s Thomas Pieters.

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has seen his position strengthened by executives departing

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has seen his position strengthened by executives departing

Such limited activity comes at a time when LIV CEO Greg Norman has faced calls from McIlroy and Woods to depart if there is to be any chance of a working relationship between the traditional and new factions.

Norman’s position has theoretically been strengthened by a string of senior departures from LIV’s leadership, but McIlroy said: ‘I mean, if the chief executive doesn’t have an executive team, I don’t know how strong that is. He can’t do it himself.’

This row isn’t going away anytime soon, folks.  



anti radiation

new balance


Source link

crypto quantum