7 fun details you might have missed from 'Teegate,' the controversy between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed that's engrossing golf

Cork Gaines,Tyler LaulettaJan 26, 2023, 03:32 IST

Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images; Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images

The LIV Golf fiasco has hit a new low.
During practice for the Dubai Desert Classic, Rory McIlroy rejected a handshake from Patrick Reed, so Reed threw a tee at Rors.
This came after McIlroy was served a subpoena on Christmas Eve related to the LIV Golf fight.

After an initial report from Spain that there was a "tense episode" between Reed and McIlroy in Dubai, a video leaked showing the incident.

McIlroy defended the snub by noting that Reed's lawyer had served him a subpoena on Christmas Eve.

Stuart Franklin/Getty Images

Reed has become one of the key faces in the fight between the PGA Tour and the breakaway, Saudi-backed LIV Golf. He recently filed a defamation suit against the Golf Channel, analyst Brandel Chamblee, and others for $750 million.

A judge dismissed the case in November. However, the legal battles between the two golf tours are not over.

"I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve," McIlroy told Sky Sports. "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."

A judge dismissed the case in November. However, the legal battles between the two golf tours are not over.

I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve, McIlroy told Sky Sports. 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 called McIlroy an 'immature little child.'

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Reed admitted to throwing the tee and said the Christmas Eve subpoena had nothing to do with him.

"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," Reed said. "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."

Reed later added: "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."

In an interview with the Daily Mail, Reed admitted to throwing the tee and said the Christmas Eve subpoena had nothing to do with him.

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, Reed said. 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.

Reed later added: 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.

Reed threw a LIV Golf tee at McIlroy.

The 4 Aces GC, which includes Patrick Reed, won the inaugural team championship.Patrick Smith/LIV Golf via Getty Images

It turns out Reed thought it would be funny to throw a tee at McIlroy because it had his LIV Golf team name on it.

"Since my tees are Team Aces LIV tees, I flicked him one," Reed told the Daily Mail. "It was kind of a funny shot back. Funny how a small little flick has turned into basically me stabbing him and throwing a tee at him."

It turns out Reed thought it would be funny to throw a tee at McIlroy because it had his LIV Golf team name on it.

Since my tees are Team Aces LIV tees, I flicked him one, Reed told the Daily Mail. It was kind of a funny shot back. Funny how a small little flick has turned into basically me stabbing him and throwing a tee at him.

McIlroy joked that if the tee-throwing roles were reversed, Reed would have gotten litigious.

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

When asked about Teegate, McIlroy said he didn't know a tee had been thrown but took the chance to take a dig at his rival.

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

When asked about Teegate, McIlroy said he didn't know a tee had been thrown but took the chance to take a dig at his rival.

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

The company who served McIlroy his subpoena is called Shark Process LLC.

Greg Norman.Getty/Brian Spurlock

Dylan Dethier of Golf Magazine unearthed the document indicating that McIlroy had indeed been served his subpoena on Christmas Eve.

Appropriately, the company that delivered the subpoena is named "Shark Process, LLC." Greg Norman, who runs LIV Golf, is nicknamed "The Shark."

Dylan Dethier of Golf Magazine unearthed the document indicating that McIlroy had indeed been served his subpoena on Christmas Eve.

Appropriately, the company that delivered the subpoena is named Shark Process, LLC. Greg Norman, who runs LIV Golf, is nicknamed The Shark.

Shark Process also tried to subpoena Tiger Woods — and failed.

Ben Jared/PGA TOUR via Getty Images

Dethier also discovered that Shark Process, LLC tried to deliver subpoenas to Woods on several occasions only to be rejected by Tiger's security, like McIlroy swatting away a handshake.

McIlroy's "incredulous facial expression."

Golf Channel

During a press conference, McIlroy was asked about the possibility of reconciling with Reed in the future. While he didn't answer the question, he gave the reporter a great look.

ASAP Sports, which transcribes sports press conferences, described the look, "incredulous facial expression," which is perfect.