Rory McIlroy reunited with LIV Golf rival as he eyes £350k prize | Golf | Sport

Rory McIlroy is looking to get 2026 off to the best possible start at the Dubai Invitational. But he’ll have to overcome old foe Patrick Reed, whose lawyer once subpoenaed him on Christmas Eve, if he wants to win.

After a 2025 that saw him win a long-awaited Masters title and be crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, McIlroy begins 2026 at the Dubai Invitational. This DP World Tour event has a winner’s share of a tad less than £350,000. The Northern Irishman has his eyes firmly on the prize after teeing off on Thursday, but one star who stands in his way is American Reed. The pair have a turbulent and lengthy history, which includes an unsavoury move to LIV Golf, a spat in Dubai and McIlroy being served papers during the festive period.

LIV Golf switch and sharp response

In 2022, when the LIV Golf League formed and many of the PGA Tour’s finest defected, Reed was among those who chose to join the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit.

McIlroy was infamously one of the most vocal critics of the new league and at the BMW PGA Championship in September 2022, he became involved in a war of words as LIV stars were able to play in this DP World Tour event.

“They shouldn’t be here, but again that’s just my opinion. But we are all going to tee it up on the 1st tee and we are all going to go play 72 holes, which is a novelty for them at this point,” McIlroy said.

From there, a verbal rivalry developed, and matters soon became legal. It is worth noting that Reed has never sued McIlroy personally.

Rory McIlroy served on Christmas Eve

In December 2022, McIlroy was served legal papers by Reed’s lawyer, Larry Klayman. McIlroy was subpoenaed to testify as part of a lawsuit filed as a civil antitrust complaint by Klayman against the PGA Tour, Commissioner Jay Monahan and the DP World Tour.

Reed was not a plaintiff in this case and Klayman was representing himself and other LIV-related interests. McIlroy was subpoenaed to testify regarding a “players-only” meeting held at the BMW Championship in August 2022. The lawsuit alleged that the PGA Tour and its top player conspired to harm LIV Golf anticompetitively.

McIlroy received the papers on Christmas Eve, which he took umbrage at. Reed, on the other hand, had already filed a separate defamation lawsuit in August 2022 against Brandel Chamblee and the Golf Channel, seeking damages.

This was later dismissed on two separate occasions after it was expanded to include a range of other journalists whom he alleged had defamed him to harm his reputation and that of LIV Golf.

Tee-throwing incident

McIlroy was furious about being served papers the day before Christmas and he and Reed had a coming-together at the Dubai Desert Classic in January 2023.

On the practice range, Reed approached McIlroy to say hello and was ignored. In response, Reed reached into his pocket and flicked a tee in the Northern Irishman’s direction.

“I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve,” said McIlroy after the incident. “So of course, trying to have a nice time with my family and someone shows up on your doorstep and delivers that, you’re not going to take that well. I’m living in reality, I don’t know where he’s living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldn’t expect a hello or a handshake.”

Reed then told the Daily Mail: “I walked over there and wished Harry [Diamond, McIlroy’s caddie] Happy New Year and then Rory because it is the first time I have seen them.

“Harry shook my hand and Rory just looked down there and was messing with his Trackman [device] and kind of decided to ignore us.

“We all know where it came from – being part of LIV. Since my tees are Team Aces LIV tees I flicked him one. He saw me and he decided not to react. It’s unfortunate. But it is one of those things – if you’re going to act like an immature little child then you might as well be treated like one.”

The two have shared small moments in the years since their feud ignited but now are both playing in DP World Tour events alongside one another. Reed will be hoping he can beat McIlroy to the Dubai Invitational crown.