LIV golf rebel Patrick Reed ‘threw a tee at Rory McIlroy’ after being snubbed by the world No 1

Patrick Reed allegedly threw a golf tee at Rory McIlroy after being snubbed by the world No 1 at the Dubai Desert Classic on Tuesday.

According to a Spanish website, ten-golf.com, LIV rebel Reed reportedly approached McIlroy on the range at the Emirates Golf Club and saluted the four-time major winner, who has been one of the staunchest critics of the breakaway series.

McIlroy is said to have ignored the gesture, prompting Reed to respond by pulling a tee from his pocket and flicking it in his direction.

While a minor tiff, the scenario would seem to touch on the discomfort felt in the golfing landscape since LIV’s arrival last year.

Nine LIV golfers are slated to tee up in Dubai on the DP World Tour this week ahead of the arbitration hearing next month which will determine if they can continue to participate on the European circuit.

Earlier, Reed gave his support to undermine LIV CEO Greg Norman.

The divisive Australian has been told by both McIlroy and Tiger Woods that he needs to leave his post if there is to be any prospect of a working relationship between LIV and the traditional tours.

Asked if Norman was the right man for the post, Reed, who is playing at the Desert Classic, Reed said: ‘He seems to be doing a great job.

‘The interactions I have had with him have been great and I have no issues with Mr Norman. I really enjoy him being part of LIV.’

Despite calls for Norman to go, the latest developments at LIV point to a strengthening of his position owing to the departure of Majed Al-Sorour, their managing director, which in turn followed the sudden exit of their influential chief operating officer Atul Khosla in December .

LIV say Al-Sorour, a director at Newcastle United and the CEO of the Saudi Golf Federation, will retain a place on their board but will ‘focus efforts and attention on other interests’.

His exit comes barely a month before the start of LIV’s second season, for which there have been no new player announcements despite hopes for as many as seven fresh arrivals. It is understood they will sign world No 44 Mito Pereira and are pushing for Belgium’s Thomas Pieters, who is teeing up this week on the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic.