Rory McIlroy has heaped praise on Patrick Reed and commended his "character" as tensions cool between the longtime golf rivals at the DP World India Championship

Rory McIlroy has lavished considerable praise on Patrick Reed and acknowledged his "character," as relations thaw between the long-standing adversaries.

McIlroy and Reed share a chequered past both on and off the fairways, marked by notable clashes at the Masters and Ryder Cup.

Their history also includes barbed comments, a tossed tee, and an unsuccessful legal action, all of which escalated following the LIV Golf split four years ago.

However, much has changed since then, with Reed departing LIV in January and reclaiming his PGA Tour credentials through the challenging route of competing regularly on the DP World Tour.

The 2018 Masters winner believes his conduct this season has helped him regain the "respect" of DP World Tour regulars, especially McIlroy.

The world No. 2 shared that view, concurring with Reed's assessment that their rapport is "getting better" after several turbulent years.

Both competitors are participating in the DP World India Championship at Delhi Golf Club this week. McIlroy began with a two-under-par 70, leaving him four strokes behind leader Niklas Norgaard on a rain-disrupted opening day, reports the Mirror US.

Reed was two over through four holes when play was halted due to fading light.

Following his round, McIlroy couldn't resist a playful quip about the détente, referencing the subpoena delivered by Reed's lawyer on Christmas Eve in 2022 during the American's failed legal challenge against the PGA Tour. "There's no lawsuits anymore, so that helps," McIlroy chuckled, before paying tribute to Reed.

"I think the way Patrick has conducted himself this year, but also just how this is the route that he's taken, and he's put his head down, and he's played the golf, and he's let his clubs do the talking.

"Patrick and I have had some really good battles over the years, and I respect him as a competitor, but I think it's meant a lot to this tour that he's done it the way he's done it, and I think to his peers as well.

"To show that character that he's come, and ultimately he wanted to get back to the PGA Tour, and he's done it the right way, and that speaks a lot about who he is, and sort of who he's maybe evolved into, and that's a great thing."

The pair continue as formidable adversaries on course, battling for the Race to Dubai crown, and while their exchanges are more amicable nowadays, Reed still possesses the determination to overcome the six-time major winner.

"I feel like the relationship's getting better," Reed told Mirror U.S. Sports on Wednesday. "It's just kind of one of those things. I mean, with me joining LIV, it rubbed some people the wrong way, right? I mean, any players that joined LIV, you know, people are going to handle it a different way, one way or the other.

"But at the same time, I feel like going out there and just kind of keeping my head head down this year and trying to earn my way back and doing my time on [the DP World Tour], going out and earning a spot [on the PGA Tour], earned a lot of respect back from some of the guys.

"I feel like it's done that with Rory. And, you know, it's one of those things that the more I'm around them, the more we spend time with them, obviously, we'll build that relationship back up.

"Hopefully, I'm able to play with them a little bit more on Saturdays and Sundays coming in because those are always fun dogfights and great battles out there on the golf course. That's one of those things that we look forward to."