Patrick Reed said that he was “born to play on the PGA Tour” after he delivered another body blow to LIV Golf by announcing that he is quitting the Saudi-backed circuit.
The 2018 Masters champion will have to wait until September to play on the PGA Tour because he is ineligible for the Returning Member Programme, created to cater for Brooks Koepka and major winners from 2022 onwards.
Reed, 35, said he planned to spend the interim on the DP World Tour, of which he is an honorary life member. He duly thanked LIV Golf “for the memories” but was scarcely gushing in his praise of the team circuit. “Over the last four years, I have learnt a lot about myself, about who I am and who I am not, and for that I am for ever grateful,” he said.
After winning the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, Reed hinted that this was in the offing. He revealed that he was out of contract, albeit he also said he would be surprised if he did not play in next week’s LIV Golf season opener in Riyadh.
Koepka sent shockwaves through the sport after announcing his return to the PGA Tour earlier this month
STUART FRANKLIN/GETTY IMAGES
“I’m a traditionalist at heart and I was born to play on the PGA Tour, which is where my story began with my wife, Justine,” he said on Wednesday. “I am moving forward with my career, and I look forward to playing on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. I can’t wait to get back out there and revisit some of the best places on earth.”
A statement from the PGA Tour explained that Reed resigned his membership in 2022, after signing a LIV deal worth tens of millions, so he is eligible to play as a non-member from August 25, 2026, which will mark a year since his last LIV appearance.
As a nine-times winner on the PGA Tour, he will then be able to return in 2027 as a past champion or could also qualify for a full card via finishing in the top ten on the DP World Tour. His win on Sunday means he is second in the Race to Dubai rankings. Like Koepka, he will be ineligible to cash in on the PGA Tour’s Player Equity Programme — which has provided more than $1billion in grants to players as a reward for performances and loyalty to the tour — until 2031.
Reed may be some way behind Bryson DeChambeau and Koepka in terms of profile, but he has been one of the bigger names on LIV and has a penchant for hiss-boo dramedy. In a sport not overflowing with personalities, he undoubtedly strengthens both the PGA and DP World Tours. And, lest we forget, he is No29 in the world, whereas Koepka is No 255, meaning Reed’s place in this year’s majors is all but secured.
Reed is a Masters winner, in 2018, and is ranked No29 in the world at present
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Some solace for LIV came from the PGA Tour saying it did not expect anyone else to sign up for the Returning Member Programme. The only other LIV players eligible for that are DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith. All have said they are staying for this year, albeit that DeChambeau is renegotiating a mega-deal for 2027 and Reed’s exit only increases his leverage.
However, Reed is also showing that there is another way back to the United States by playing out the year-long suspension on the DP World Tour. Should the likes of Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton be lured by that prospect, they will also need to pay millions in outstanding fines.
The news compounded a miserable day for LIV that started well, with it announcing a hospitality partnership with Rolex, already a sponsor of the PGA and DP World Tours.
However, Fox Sports later put out a social media promo message for the LIV season, but managed to misspell the names of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer. An Byeong-hun, the South Korean LIV player, said: “It’s unreal how they got my name right but wrong on the others.” That Reed was not featured on that advert was a sign of things to be confirmed.
DeChambeau is one of LIV’s biggest names and is negotiating a new deal for 2027
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Reed’s exit is another serious setback for LIV, although some PGA Tour journalists may not be entirely jubilant. The Texan has been involved in legal cases in recent times in which he sought $750million (£545million) damages from various broadcasters and journalists for defamation. Lawsuit documents also claimed that Reed was not afforded adequate protection at PGA Tour events and how hostile fans had threatened his wife, caddie and coach. Last summer, the US Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of the lawsuits. Reed has also been plagued by rules controversies and historic allegations of cheating, which have always been strenuously denied.
However, many on the DP World Tour think highly of his long-term support for the circuit, and he said at the weekend how he enjoyed being the lone American in events. “It’s easy to stay at home and play on the PGA Tour, but to actually grow the game worldwide, you have to travel worldwide,” he said. Reed played 32 events last year on LIV Golf, DP World and Asian Tours.
Before Reed’s announcement, Rory McIlroy had noted his words from Dubai and said: “It seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realise that they’re not getting everything that they wanted out of going over there, and that’s obviously a great thing for the PGA Tour.”