PGA Tour stars Max Homa and Collin Morikawa mock ‘tee-gate’ between Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed

PGA Tour stars Max Homa and Collin Morikawa couldn’t help but poke fun at this week’s ‘tee-gate’ between Rory McIlroy and LIV Golf rebel Patrick Reed. 

Reed flicked a tee at McIlroy after the World No. 1 blanked the American on the driving range at the Dubai Desert Classic this week. 

McIlroy later revealed in a press conference that he had been served with a subpoena by Reed’s attorney, Larry Klayman, on Christmas Eve, causing the snub. 

PGA Tour stars Max Homa (L) and Collin Morikawa (R) couldn’t help but poke fun at ‘tee-gate’

Homa took to Twitter that he had a successful start to the week with no subpoenas Wednesday

The golf world naturally erupted at the war of words and even McIlroy and Reed’s fellow pros saw the funny side. 

Following his first round at the Framers Insurance Open Wednesday, Homa took to Twitter to make light of the tension between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf camps. 

Poking fun, he wrote: ‘Had a nice time on the course today. 5 birdies, 1 bogey, no subpoenas. Very successful start to the week!’

Two-time major winner Morikawa got in on the action, responding to the tweet by claiming he ‘was so close to throwing a tee’ at Homa but decided his fellow American was ‘too nice’.

Two-time major winner Morikawa got in on the action, joking he was ‘close to throwing a tee’

Homa kept the joke running by replying in the thread: ‘Thank u for sparing me.’

The latest chapter in golf’s never-ending civil war broke out when Reed approached McIlroy on the range at the Emirates Golf Club and saluted the four-time major winner, who offered no response.

McIlroy, who has been one of the staunchest critics of the Saudi-funded breakaway, later admitted in his pre-tournament media duties that he intentionally blanked Reed over his Christmas Eve subpoena. 

Footage shows Patrick Reed (second right) approaching Rory McIlroy (left) in Dubai

After McIlroy ignores the American, Reed turns back to throw one of his tees at the world No 1

The writ is believed to be geared around compelling McIlroy to testify on the contents of a meeting between PGA Tour players in Delaware last year. 

McIlroy said: ‘I was down by my bag and he came up to me. 

‘I was busy working and doing my practice and I didn’t really feel the need to acknowledge him. I didn’t see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently that’s what happened.

‘And if roles were reversed and I’d have of thrown that tee at him, I’d be expecting a lawsuit.’

The Northern Irishman admitted ignoring Reed on the range at the Dubai Desert Classic

The last quip was quite possibly a play on a $750million defamation lawsuit that have been issued by Klayman on Reed’s behalf against Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.

When pressed on the driving range scenario, McIlroy added: ‘I mean, I got a subpoena on Christmas Eve. You can’t pretend like nothing’s happening, right? I think that’s the thing. We are living in reality here.’ 

Reed, who has often been one of the most-polarizing figures in the sport over the years, fired back, branding the Northern Irishman an ‘immature little child’.