McIlroy ready to ignore Reed as tensions rise

Rory McIlroy insists he did not feel the need to acknowledge Patrick Reed after an incident on the range at the Dubai Desert Classic.

According to a report on Spanish website ten-golf.com, Reed threw a tee towards McIlroy after being snubbed by the world number one.

Asked what had happened in his pre-tournament press conference, McIlroy said: "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.

"So I didn't see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently that's what happened. And if roles were reversed and I'd have thrown that tee at him, I'd be expecting a lawsuit."

That was a reference to the legal action Reed is taking on several fronts following his decision to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf series.

The former Masters champion is one of 13 players involved in an arbitration case with the DP World Tour over sanctions imposed for playing the first LIV event last June and has also launched a defamation lawsuit against several media members and organisations.

The lawyer representing Reed in that case also subpoenaed McIlroy and Tiger Woods in regards to the players-only meeting that was held prior to the BMW Championship in August.

The subpoenas are part of a civil lawsuit filed in June by Larry Klayman which claims that Florida residents who bought tickets to PGA Tour events, or would in future, were damaged by the PGA Tour allegedly weakening fields by suspending players who joined LIV.

Asked if it was naive of Reed to expect a warm welcome given the circumstances, McIlroy told Sky Sports: "I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve.

"So of course, trying to have a nice time with my family and