‘Ignoring the Lead Greeting’ McIlroy: "I Found It Annoying"

Complaints Voiced in Official Interview at Dubai Desert Classic

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland, photo) got into an emotional confrontation with Patrick Reed (USA), a LIV Golf member supported by Saudi Arabia.

On the 26th (local time), at the DP World Tour (formerly European Tour) Dubai Desert Classic (total prize money $9 million) held at the Emirates Golf Club (par 72, 7,428 yards) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), McIlroy, who participated in the tournament, ignored Reed's greeting at the practice range. An enraged Reed reportedly threw a wooden tee at McIlroy.

At the official press conference held on the 25th, a day before the Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy admitted, "It is true that I ignored Reed's greeting." At first, he was focused on practice and did not realize Reed was approaching, but when Reed came over and said "hello," McIlroy explained, "I really disliked seeing him." McIlroy expressed his displeasure, saying, "If I were Reed, I wouldn't come over to greet or shake hands."

McIlroy is leading the effort to protect the PGA Tour against LIV Golf. He insists, "The DP World Tour should also ban players who have transferred to LIV Golf, just like the PGA Tour." Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, is a representative player who left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf. Several LIV Golf transfer players, including Abraham Ancer (Mexico), Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood (both England), and Henrik Stenson (Sweden), participated in this tournament.