Rory McIlroy has finally forgiven Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend dealt him a brutal snub.
Keane refused to give a 12-year-old McIlroy his autograph during his playing days at Old Trafford.
McIlroy revealed the story in 2017, insisting he wasn't a fan of the former Red Devils skipper because of the incident.
The lifelong United fan previously said: "(Keane) should be one of my heroes as a United player, but I've never liked him since."
Rory McIlroy has forgiven Roy Keane for his autograph snub
The Overlap
The pair were reunited on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast this week.
And the autograph snub was one of the first topics discussed.
Gary Neville asked McIlroy who is sporting idol was, in which the 34-year-old took a clear dig at Keane, replying: "David Beckham".
The panel were in fits of laughter as they knew what was about to be discussed.
And McIlroy revealed the truth behind the story from the early noughties.
He said: "I was down at Portmarnock Links Hotel and the Irish team were staying.
"I saw one of my Man United heroes in the lobby, Roy Keane, and asked him for an autograph. I was 12.
"He was sitting down, he looked up to me and said, 'Not today, kid.' I was like 'Okay...'"
A sheepish Keane gave a reason for the snub, insisting he was preparing for Republic of Ireland's next match.
He replied: "I was probably in the zone. Probably going to training.
"I always remember in that hotel tell there were kids around annoying the players. Here's another one!
"I feel bad if that is 100 per cent true. I wouldn't just snub a little kid. F***ing hell, give me a break!"
And Keane was desperate to change subjects. He added: "Can we move on now? Or is this going to be the whole hour-long podcast?"
McIlroy insisted all was now good between the pair.
He said: "I've gotten over it. We've made up now and we're best of friends."
But McIlroy didn't let it lie and brought it up again later in the podcast.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS
Rory McIlroy is a lifelong Man United fan
Getty
Asked about his relationship with golf great Tiger Woods, McIlroy took another dig at Keane.
He said: "I feel very fortunate. Tiger was my hero in golf growing up and we've forged a really good relationship.
"People always say, 'Don't meet your heroes...'"
Keane took it with good humour though as the rest of the panel fell about laughing.
He responded: "I knew that was coming! How long have we got left? Speed this up!"
Roy Keane took the dig in good humour
Getty
Meanwhile, McIlroy revealed he regrets losing his cool at the Ryder Cup last year.
He fumed at Patrick Cantlay's caddie Jo LaCava during Europe's triumph in Rome and let loose in the car park afterwards.
He said: "I lost it [my emotions], calling people names and things happened that I regret, I used some language in front of people that should never hear that and I'm sitting in the car afterwards going, 'I probably shouldn't have done that'.
"But we shook hands and made up and had a beer together on the Sunday night - everything was fine."
