Patrick Reed finds himself in a curious situation. The former Masters champion could prevail this weekend in the Dubai Desert Classic and see a decent chunk of the $1.5m (\u00a31.1m) first prize duly handed back to the DP World Tour in fines. Reed has joked that it will not be particularly easy for him to make a profit on this tour during 2026. Indeed, he basically starts his season in the red.<\/p>\n
Reed\u2019s membership of the DP World and LIV circuits leads to sanctions from the former every time he tees up on the latter. He lost an appeal over that situation in 2023 yet, unlike some others, opted to keep playing on what was once the European Tour<\/a>. Reed\u2019s position is further affected by the general understanding that LIV would no longer pay fines on behalf of its members from the end of 2025.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a really fluid one depending on how much it [the fine] is because it also depends where the event is,\u201d Reed said. \u201cThere are so many different factors that go into it. Trying to wrap your head around all of it, it\u2019s confusing. I\u2019d rather just tee it up and play; and if costs me this, that, whatever, I\u2019ll go play.<\/p>\n \u201cWe haven\u2019t played an event yet that we would be fined so we don\u2019t know really what it entails for this year. If it happens to be where I\u2019m being fined and having to pay fines to play out here, so be it. I\u2019m not going to allow that to deter me from showing support and playing on this tour. Play well and it offsets.\u201d<\/p>\n