RORY MCILROY was branded an "immature little child" by Patrick Reed after a tee throwing incident in Dubai.

The Co Down man admitted he ignored Reed because the Texan’s lawyer served him with a subpoena on Christmas Eve in the on-going battle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour.

“Yeah, I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve,” McIlroy said. “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.

“So again, 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.”

As for the tee, he said: “I didn't see a tee. I didn't feel a tee. Obviously someone else saw that. But it's definitely a storm in a teacup.”

Reed admitted flicking a tee at McIlroy as a joke after failing to break the ice.

"Because of the relationship I've had with Rory--let's be honest, we've had some great battles at Augusta and other tournament and our friendship's been pretty good up until obviously joining LIV," Reed told Golf Monthly.

"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 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.

"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."

Reed added: "He saw me and he decided not to to react. 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.”