At this week’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, Rory was once again asked about his former friend, Sergio Garcia. Sergio Garcia, who’s the European team’s all-time leading scorer in the Ryder Cup would typically be a player who’s worthy of consideration for one of those six available spots.
“So, I get myself ready, and then a while later, I’m standing out in front of the hotel with my caddy and my coach, and we’re saying, ‘Where’s the car?’” Reed told Irish Golfer. “I didn’t see it,” McIlroy said.
What happened between Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy in Dubai? Well, it all goes back to the recent creation of LIV Golf, the start-up tour that launched last year and is attempting to compete with the PGA Tour.
Back in 2016, Reed and McIlroy were the undisputed apex predators of their Ryder Cup teams, and for a few glorious holes in their singles match, they put on a head-to-head show that was literally as good as golf gets. “That was it.
In less than a day Patrick Reed went from calling Rory McIlroy “an immature child” to praising the world No 1 for alerting him to the fact he could return to bed for a few more hours of sleep because of a weather delay to the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. 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.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Patrick Reed fared better than Rory McIlroy after some pre-tournament friction as the Dubai Desert Classic got off to a wet start Thursday with only 11 players managing to finish their weather-affected first rounds. Play only began at the European tour event after a delay of six hours caused by heavy overnight rain that left the course unplayable at Emirates Golf Club.
“[Equipment contracts] don’t seem as necessary with the money we’re playing for,” one pro said to the other. Kyle Westmoreland signed an equipment deal with Cobra for his rookie season.
The spat, on the range at the Dubai Desert Classic, has only heightened tension between LIV Golf players and those on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. “I was down by my bag and he came up to me, and I was busy working and sort of doing my practice, and I didn’t really feel like… I didn’t feel the need to acknowledge him,” said McIlroy.
While LIV has yet to finalize its list of players for the 2023 season, there’s no question that for now, the PGA Tour will maintain its edge in top-tier talent. Aug. 11-13: Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster, N.J.
