One of the LIV Golf Breakaway League’s most vocal critics, Rory McIlroy, felt mentally drained at the end of last year and decided to leave the club for a few weeks.
“It was nice to take a little time and try to get some distance from the game of golf,” said world No. 1 McIlroy.
Now he’s back and looks as fiery as ever.
As McIlroy was on the driving range of the Dubai Desert Classic on Tuesday, Patrick Reed, one of the prominent players to join the exodus to the Saudi-backed series that has changed the face of golf in 2022. I have been contacted.
McIlroy said he was busy practicing and didn’t feel the need to thank Reed.
“Patrick came to say hello and I didn’t want him to,” McIlroy said Wednesday.
McIlroy was asked about reports that the American threw a tee at him, and the four-time Grand Slam winner said he didn’t see or feel anything.
“But apparently it happened,” McIlroy said. “And if the roles were reversed and I threw him a tee, I would have expected him. [to file] litigation. ”
McIlroy said he received the subpoena from Reid’s attorney on Christmas Eve. Reed filed a defamation lawsuit last month..
McIlroy is clearly not willing to settle in Dubai.
“Of course, when you’re trying to have a good time with your family, someone will show up at your doorstep and deliver it to you, but you can’t receive it well,” McIlroy said.
“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.”
Reid said later Wednesday that he shook hands with McIlroy’s caddy Harry Diamond and flicked the tee towards McIlroy.
“Rory was just looking down there, messing with his Trackman, and decided to ignore us,” Reed said. “We all know where it came from.” I’m part of LIV.My T-shirt is a team. [4] Ace’s LIV Tee, I gave him one flick. It was an interesting shot back. It’s funny how a little flick basically got me stabbing him and throwing a tee at him.
“He looked at me and decided not to react. We’ve always had a good relationship so it’s a shame.. will be treated the same way as well.”
McIlroy was later asked if it would be beneficial to “mend ties” with another LIV rebel, Sergio Garcia, if it would serve the European cause heading into this year’s Ryder Cup.
“No,” the Northern Irish candid response.
The sacrifice made to McIlroy for being de facto an anti-LIV spokesperson didn’t stop him from returning to the top of the world rankings late last year.
His most recent competitive tournament was the World Tour Championships, also in Dubai, in November.
McIlroy said the vacation gave him the opportunity to “recharge, reset, and try to start 2023 with renewed optimism,” and he’s back in the Middle East with unfinished business.
of Last year’s Dubai Desert Classic, McIlroy, who led 71 holes, bogeyed after hitting his second shot into the water in front of the green on the par-5 18th on Sunday. He finished shots behind Victor Hovland and Richard Bland and Hovland won the playoffs.
“It wasn’t the way I wanted to do it in the end,” McIlroy said. “But I played really well from that week onwards and had a great year.”
McIlroy has won the event twice. 2009 was his first professional title at the age of 19. 2015 is no different. I enjoy coming to this part of the world.
“I’ve been coming here for a long time, 17 years,” he said. “There’s a certain amount of comfort here. He likes to start the year here. He has a lot of friends. This place he called home for four years.”
Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
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