The money-can’t-buy scenario for organisers of a disrupted Dubai Desert Classic involves Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed, fresh from Teegate, side by side in a weekend group. Reed, having played a key role in early week theatre, now has eyes fixed firmly on the prize. McIlroy is a Dubai specialist.
Reed’s propensity to block out background noise is nothing new. It was perhaps no surprise, then, to see the former Masters champion race to four under par and within one shot of the lead before time was called on day one at the Emirates Club. “Once you get inside the ropes, you put the blinders on and go play golf,” said Reed with a shrug.
Flooding – yes, flooding – had caused an earlier, six-hour delay. Reed must return on Friday morning to complete the final two holes of his opening round. He had not even bothered bringing an umbrella to the Middle East.
Wider chatter still surrounds Monday and McIlroy’s now famous blanking of Reed. The latter duly tossed a tee in his former Ryder Cup opponent’s direction. By the side of the 16th green, Reed was of a mind to play the drama down.
“Honestly, you are all blowing up this ‘Teegate’ way bigger than it really is,” said Reed. “I don’t really feel like I did anything wrong on the range. Rory, could he have said hi’? Yes he could but he chose not to. That’s really the only thing. He didn’t attack me, he didn’t do anything, he just decided not to respond. That’s his choice. At the end of the day, it is nothing. I’m already over it. I was over it when it happened. I’m pretty sure he was over it right after it happened as well.”
Reed has been entertained by focus on the spat but clearly feels he has been singled out for needless abuse, too. “It’s hilarious, it is funny,” he added. “It just shows you how immature some people can be and how funny some people can be. Some of the stuff that has been posted and said has been hilarious … the memes and things on social media. It is creative.
“At the same time, I am never for taking shots at somebody without doing it to their face. I think it is cowardly to do that on social media or in writing. If you have something bad to say or make fun or somebody, do it to their face. If you can’t to their face, there is no point doing it at all.”
Thomas Pieters was the only played to reach five under. He has three holes of round one to play. McIlroy, on his first start of 2023, looked rusty when reaching the turn in plus one but had propelled himself to minus two by the time the horn blew. McIlroy, like Pieters, is through 15. Half the field has yet to start their first round, meaning the DP World Tour more inclement weather forecast for Friday somehow fails to arrive.