Baggy-trousered Rory McIlroy appears to end feud with former Ryder Cup rival

Masters champion Rory McIlroy appeared to bury the hatchet with former Ryder Cup rival Patrick Reed ahead of the DP World India Championship, as an eye-catching pair of baggy trousers he wore provided an unlikely source of amusement for fellow players.

The Northern Irishman, 37, has arrived in Delhi ahead of the penultimate event of the DP World Tour's 'Back 9'.

McIlroy currently trails Reed in the Race to Dubai standings but can leapfrog the former LIV Golf recruit with victory this week.

The six-time major champion is attempting to equal Colin Montgomerie's record of eight order of merit titles, which the Scot racked up in the 1990s, but has Reed standing in his way.

Reed told reporters before the BMW PGA Championship that he was relishing the conclusion to the DP World Tour season and the prospect of battling McIlroy.

McIlroy also praised Reed for how the former Masters champion has gone about his business since leaving LIV Golf at the turn of the year, earning his way back onto the PGA Tour through good play.

McIlroy was spotted warmly greeting Reed on Tuesday ahead of his practice round.

His baggy trousers also appeared to be the source of amusement for the likes of Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai. 

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The exchange was a stark contrast to their frosty encounter at the Dubai Desert Classic three years ago, when a flicked golf tee became an unlikely symbol of golf's bitter civil war.

On that occasion, Reed approached McIlroy on the practice ground but was blanked by the Ulsterman, who later revealed he had little appetite for pleasantries after being served with a legal subpoena by the American's lawyer on Christmas Eve.

Reed responded to the snub by flicking a LIV-branded tee in McIlroy's direction as he walked away, sparking a very public war of words between two players who had previously shared the Ryder Cup stage and been involved in one of the greatest Sunday singles contests in the history of the biennial clash.

"Patrick came up to say hello," McIlroy previously explained. "I didn't really want him to."

He added: "I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve.

"I'm 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.

"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."

For his part, Reed said he found it amusing that a little tee flick had turned into a big story.

Tee times for the first two rounds of the DP World India Championship have now been revealed. 

McIlroy won't play alongside Reed for the first two rounds as he has been grouped with his Ryder Cup teammates Tommy Fleetwood and Robert MacIntyre. 

Reed is playing alongside Ryan Fox and Aaron Rai.