Patrick Reed has hit back at Rory McIlroy, labelling the four-time major champion an 'immature little child'. Reed and McIlroy were involved in an altercation on the driving range of this week's Dubai Desert Classic.
The American threw a tee at the Northern Irishman after McIlroy allegedly refused to acknowledge his rival when he was approached during practice. The pair have found themselves on opposite sides of golf's ongoing civil war caused by LIV Golf's emergence.
McIlroy has been one of the biggest critics of the newly formed series, whilst Reed was one of the controversial stars to make the Saudi switch.
Reed - alongside a number of other LIV rebels - is back in DP World Tour action this week despite the breakaway series' ongoing legal dispute with the Wentworth-based circuit. His return however has been overshadowed by his clash with McIlroy.
McIlroy addressed the situation in his pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, commenting: "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."
The Northern Irishman admitted the reason behind his snubbing was due to receiving a subpoena from Reed's lawyer on Christmas Eve in regard to the American's defamation lawsuit against Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.
He said: "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."
Reed has since defended his actions, and put McIlroy's snubbing down to the four-time major champion's LIV Golf views.
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He said: "I walked over there and wished Harry [Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie] Happy New Year and then Rory, because it is the first time I have seen them. Harry shook my hand and Rory just looked down there and was messing with his Trackman (device) and kind of decided to ignore us. We all know where it came from – being part of LIV.
"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... He saw me and he decided not to 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."
