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Rory McIlroy finally snaps back at LIV Golf defectors Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed in behind-the-scenes footage from Netflix’s ‘Full Swing’ series after months subtle digs being exchanged. 

The PGA Tour docuseries, which Sportsmail was given an early insight into, doesn’t delve into the LIV Golf drama that shrouded golf throughout the past 12 months as much as expected. However, it does deliver a bombshell moment in the series finale. 

Episode Eight, aptly titled, ‘Everything Has Led To This,’ the PGA Tour’s most staunch critic of LIV Golf, McIlroy, finally lets rip at the Saudi-backed series’ chief defectors. 

After focusing on the Northern Irishman’s heartbreak at missing out at the British Open at St. Andrews in July is switches to the season finale at the Tour Championship, where he ultimately triumphed. 

While on the range at East Lake, McIlroy is captured discussing Reed on camera after learning he had played on the Asian Tour following his suspension from the PGA.

Rory McIlroy snapped back at LIV Golf defectors Phil Mickelson (left) and Patrick Reed (right)

McIlroy’s appearance in the season finale of ‘Full Swing’ finally offers some revealing moments

‘And dropped spots on the world rankings,’ McIlroy said, while laughing. ‘Beautiful!’

The revelation of the jibe comes a month after ‘tee-gate’ between McIlroy and Reed at the Dubai Desert Classic. 

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.

Reed then flicked a tee at McIlroy after the World No. 1 blanked the American on the driving range at the event on the DP World Tour at the end of January.  

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. 

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 ultimately emerged from the latest battle victorious as he pipped his rival by one stroke to win the tournament. 

Six-time major winner and LIV’s leading rebel Mickelson, who has also taken digs at McIlroy over his loyalty to the status quo, wasn’t spared from the mockery either. 

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

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

McIlroy ultimately emerged from the latest battle victorious as he pipped his rival by one shot

Later on, while in the physio room, McIlroy was discussing Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and how he was a fan of the PGA Tour. 

But then he added: ‘Yeah but he’s a PM [Phil Mickelson] fan so I don’t know.’ A friend then chimed in, saying: ‘Sounds like the guy is losing credibility!’ 

As laughter broke out, McIlroy chipped in with: ‘F*** you Phil! I hope that makes it in!’ 

The episode also dropped a bombshell revelation about the PGA Tour’s massive changes, which were announced in August as part of the fightback against LIV. 

The McIlroy-focused episode also covers the Tiger Woods-led players only meeting in Wilmington, Delaware and Jay Monahan’s announcement of changes.

It finally offers some revealing moments with a bombshell revelation from the four-time major winner that players were blindsided by the ‘mandatory’ elevated events from the commissioner.

Cameras capture a private conversation between McIlroy and Andy Pazder, PGA Tour’s chief of operations, who asks about player reactions to Monahan’s blockbuster news conference the day prior, announcing major restructuring and elevated events.

‘I don’t know if Jay has communicated this to you,’ McIlroy says, ‘but about that ‘mandatory’ … there’s been a lot of blowback on that by the guys in the room.’

‘Really?’ Pazder responds.

The mandatory events were announced as part of commissioner Jay Monahan’s changes

The Netflix docuseries continues to follow LIV Golf’s rebels once they have jumped ship  

‘They were sort of blindsided by it,’ McIlroy says. ‘That’s sort of the feeling. Like, we knew there were going to be four elevated events, but we didn’t know anything about them being mandatory.’

The Netflix cameras continued to follow the LIV members, such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Ian Poulter, in the aftermath of their Saudi switch. 

And they used the chance to explain the motives behind their decision to jump ship. 

Poulter, for example, used his waning days as a viable pro, his role as a father, his personality platform, and, let’s face it, the money, as excuses. 

US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick, during an episode focusing on his major winner and LIV rebels reunion with the PGA Tour faithful at Brookline last year, also reveals he received a ‘half-hearted proposal’ but insists he wants to continue playing with the best in the world which is on the PGA Tour. 

‘Full Swing’ drops on Netflix at 3am EST on February 15th.  

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