Golf

Golfers poke fun at Patrick Reed throwing tee at Rory McIlroy

The ongoiź§™ng drama between Rory McIlroy and Paš„¹trick Reed has started to become a joke among other gošŸ¤Ŗlfers.

From Max Homa to Collin Morikawa to Steve Wheatcroft, players have chimed in with their thoughts on the saga, firing off tweets with jabs at the headlines tee-gate has genešŸ’žrated.

ā€œHad a nice time on the course today,ā€ Homa, a five-time PGA Tour winner playing at the Farmers Insurance Open in CališŸ’«fornia this week, wrote Wednesday on Twitter. ā€œ5 birdies, 1 bogey, no subpoenšŸŽ€as. Very successful start to the week!ā€

In response to Homaā€™s tweet, two-time major champ and world No. 8 Collin Morikawa replied that he was ā€œso close to throwing a tee” at Homa but that he’s too nice. Homa then continued the thread with a reply that thanked Morikawa for sparing him.

Max Homa his a shot during the first round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Jan. 25, 2023. Getty Images

Even Wheatcroft, a 44-yearšŸ… -old journeyman, got in on the action and was much more blunt about it.

ā€œAm I missing something with this Patrick Reed @McIlroyRory drama?ā€ . ā€œIf a dude subpoenaed me on Xmasā˜‚ Eve when Iā€™m trying to be with my kids, heā€™s dead to me. 

ā€œNot trying to shake your hand. Youā€™ve left the tour and are suinÜ«g everyone. Take your money and get the F out.ā€

Everything started Monday on the driving range at the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, where Reed approached McIlroy only to be ignored by the Northern Irishman. That prompted Reed to toss a tee in McIlroy’s direction after shaking handą½§s with McIlroyā€™s caddie, Harry Diamond.

Reed, a former Masters champ and nine-time winner on tour who dšŸ˜¼itched the PGA Tour for controversial LIV Golfį€£ last year, claimed that McIlroy had buried his head into his Trackman device and ā€œkind of decided to ignore us,” he told reporters.

McIlroy, who said in a press conference that he didnā€™t see Reed toss the tee toward him, also revealed that he received a subpoena from Reedā€™s legal team on Christmas Eve to appear in court in relation to Reedā€™s lawsuit against Golź¦”f Channel and analyst Brandel Chamblee.

ā€œTrying to have a nice šŸ”Ætime with my family and someone shows up on your doorstep and delivers that, youā€™re not going to take that well,ā€ McIlroy said. ā€œIā€™m living in reality, I donā€™t know where heā€™s living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldnā€™t expect a hello or a handshake.ā€

Patrick Reed, on the green during the Dubai Desert Classic’s opening round. Getty Images
Rory McIlroy looks on during the Dubai Desert Classic’s opening round. Getty Images

As the first round began Thursday, though, Reed so far has outplayed McIlroy š’‰°in Dubai, though. Reed is 4-under par through 16 and one šŸ»off the lead, while McIlroy is 2-under through 15 holes.

The Dubai Desert Classic conšŸ„‚tinues the next three days at Emirates Golf Club.