Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed have been rivals for more than a decade, both on and off the golf course. The emergence of LIV Golf, Reed’s decision to defect to the rebel league, and the subsequent litigation only increased the tension between the six-time major champion and Reed.
But those tensions seem to have thawed. Reed left LIV Golf in Januaryaccepted a one-year PGA Tour suspension and worked his way back to the American circuit by finishing in the top 10 in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai standings. Reed won in Dubai and Qatar earlier this year, all but ensuring his return to the PGA Tour in 2027. Reed’s willingness to take his punishment and confidence in himself. shoot the required scores to return to the PGA Tour earned McIlroy’s respect.
“No more processing, so it helps,” McIlroy joked with reporters after his first round of the DP World India Championship on Thursday about his thawing relationship with Reed. “I think the way Patrick has carried himself this year, but also how this is the path he took, and he put his head down, and he played golf, and he let his clubs do the talking. Patrick and I have had really good battles over the years, and I respect him as a competitor, but I think it means a lot for his journey, and I think he did it this way, and I think he did it this way. also for show that character that he came, and ultimately he wanted to return to the PGA Tour, and he did it in the right way, and that speaks a lot about who he is, and who he has perhaps evolved, and that is a great thing.
Reed and McIlroy had an epic duel at the 2016 Ryder Cup, where Reed beat McIlroy in singles. After that, the two seemed to have a good relationship. McIlroy also went out of his way to defend Reed at points when Reed found himself in the spotlight for various unfortunate reasons. But the bad blood between McIlroy and Reed started when golf’s civil war broke out and reached a boiling point in late 2022/early 2023, when Reed’s lawyer, Larry Klayman, served McIlroy with a subpoena. The subpoena was for Klayman’s defamation suit against the PGA Tour, not one of Reed’s personal suits. But Reed was suing a lot of people at the time, so it’s easy to see how it got lost in legal translation. At the Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023, Reed went to shake McIlroy’s hand on the driving range. McIlroy ignored him and Reed sported a LIV Golf T-shirt in his direction. A day later, McIlroy explained that he was served that summons on Christmas Eve.
“I was called by his lawyer on Christmas Eve,” McIlroy said at the time. “So, of course, you’re trying to spend a good time with my family and someone shows up on your door and provides that, you’re not going to take it so well. Then, again, I live in reality, I don’t know where he lives. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a greeting or a handshake.”
Reed called McIlroy a “little immature” in response to the handshake.
More than three years removed from tee-flick-gate, the world of pro golf looks very different. LIV Golf has sunk into bankruptcy courtMcIlroy is ready to welcome back failures, and Reed has earned his way back to the PGA Tour via the DP World Tour, where he is currently leading the Race to Dubai standings as McIlroy is shooting for his record eighth Race to the Dubai title.
All of which has led to Reed and McIlroy’s relationship looking different as the professional golf world begins to recover.
“I feel like the relationship is better. It’s just one of those things. I mean, with me joining LIV, it rubbed some people the wrong way, didn’t it?” Reed he told the Mirror in India this week. “I mean, all the players that joined LIV, you know, people are going to treat it in a different way, one way or another. But at the same time, I feel like going out there and keeping my head down this year and trying to earn my way back and doing my time on (the DP World Tour), going out and earning a spot (on the PGA Tour), I respect a lot of guys.
“I feel like it’s done that with Rory. And, you know, it’s one of those things that the more I’m around them, the more time we spend with them, obviously, we’re going to build that relationship. Hopefully I’m able to play with them a little bit more this coming Saturday and Sunday, because they’re always fun dogfights and great battles that we’re looking forward to.”
McIlroy and Reed have both struggled this week at Delhi Golf Club, where Eugenio Chacarra leads after two and a half rounds. Chacarra, who is currently second in the Race to Dubai standings, is in line to overtake Reed for the top spot and become the man Reed and McIlroy are chasing as the DP World Tour heads into its finale.
