Rory McIlroy explains driving range tee-throwing incident with Patrick Reed

On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy gave his version of what went down between him and LIV Golf member Patrick Reed on the driving range Tuesday at the Dubai Desert Classic.

It was reported Tuesday that the pair had a minor altercation on the driving range.

According to an Associated Press and ESPN report, McIlroy was "approached by Reed" at the driving range, but the four-time major champion said he was busy practicing and "didn't feel the need to acknowledge Reed."

"Patrick came up to say hello, and I didn't really want him to," McIlroy said, per the report.

Reports came out Tuesday that when McIlroy snubbed Reed, the latter threw a tee towards him. The No. 1 player in the world said he didn't see or feel the tee, "but apparently that's what happened," adding a jab that he would've expected the American to file a lawsuit if the "roles were reversed and I'd have thrown that tee at him."

The two-time PGA Championship victor has said that he was served a subpoena by Reed's lawyers on Christmas Eve. McIlroy hasn't provided specifics about the subpoena, but Reed refiled a defamation lawsuit in December.

McIlroy has captured first place at the Dubai Desert Classic twice -- first in 2009 at 19 years old for his first title as a pro, and then in 2015.

McIlroy and Reed could be seeing more of each other at this spring's Masters, as it was announced in December that at least 15 members of LIV Golf -- including Reed -- had received invites to the major event. The 32-year-old Reed's only first-place finish at a major came at the 2018 Masters.