Patrick Reed has announced this Wednesday that he is leaving LIV Golf. His words on Sunday after winning the Hero Dubai Desert Classic have been prophetic. He is the second departure from the Saudi league after Brooks Koepka. Another Major winner leaving after four years teaming up with Dustin Johnson. Another hard blow to the flotation line of the circuit funded by the PIF.
Reed has not offered any further explanation than the following: “After deep deliberation, my family and I have made the decision not to compete in LIV Golf anymore. I am excited to announce that I will return to the PGA Tour next year with the category of former champion and will be eligible to compete there.” No further reasons have been given.
Obviously, it is very easy to conclude that Reed and LIV Golf have not reached an economic agreement, beyond other reasons that may be put forward in the future. It is speculation, but everything points to it when last Sunday, after winning at the Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, Reed himself assured that yes, he had not yet signed his renewal, but that he would be surprised not to be in Riyadh next Wednesday starting the LIV season.
Shortly after Reed’s statement, the PGA Tour did the same. Through social media, it said the following: “Patrick Reed has informed the PGA Tour of his desire to return.”
Winner of nine PGA Tour tournaments, he requests the reinstatement of his membership in the PGA Tour for the 2027 season, competing under the category of former champions. Since he resigned his membership in 2022 before infringing any TOUR regulations, he could return to TOUR competition on August 25, 2026, as a non-member, provided he complies with TOUR regulations and does not participate in new unauthorized events. At that time, Reed would be eligible to participate as a non-member in the FedExCup Fall tournaments and could accept sponsor invitations or participate in tournament qualifiers.
Afterwards, Reed will be able to reinstate his membership for the 2027 TOUR season, in which he would compete under the category of former champion. The 35-year-old player will play this year on the DP World Tour. Reed could improve his status for 2027 if he finishes among the top ten in the Race to Dubai ranking, in which he currently holds the second position. He will compete in the 2027 PGA Tour season under the highest eligibility category he achieves.
“I am excited to announce that I am returning to the PGA TOUR as a former champion member for the 2027 season and that I am eligible to start competing in PGA TOUR events later this year,” Reed said in a statement. “I will continue to compete and play as a Lifetime Honorary Member on the DP World Tour, something that is a true honour for me and that I am very excited about.” Like any player readmitted under the Returning Member Program, Reed will not be able to participate in the Player Equity Program (equity sharing) until 2030.
“We consider this to be a sufficiently significant —and justified— financial penalty for former PGA TOUR members who are readmitted,” noted the Chief of Competitions, Tyler Dennis, and the Chief of Players, Jason Gore, in a memo sent on Wednesday to TOUR members. “We remain committed to strengthening the PGA TOUR, serving our fans, and welcoming back players who wish to return, through a consistent process.”
Reed did not meet the criteria of the Returning Member Program that was established earlier this month by the TOUR CEO, Brian Rolapp, and applied to players who had won a major or THE PLAYERS since 2022 (only Koepka, who took advantage, DeChambeau, Rahm, and Cameron Smith were included). Although the deadline for the Returning Member Program expires on Monday, February 2, TOUR officials understand that Brooks Koepka —who will participate this week in the Farmers Insurance Open— will be the only player to return through this program.
Although Reed retains exempt status for previous TOUR victories until the 2026 season, that category cannot be used this year to enter tournaments as a non-member. His status this fall would potentially make him eligible to receive a captain’s pick for the Presidents Cup in September.
Reed, whose most recent TOUR victory came at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open, last competed in a TOUR event outside of the majors in June 2022. His victory on Sunday in Dubai on the DP World Tour placed him 29th in the world ranking.
Reed sorprende y desvela que ahora mismo no tiene contrato con LIV Golf
Now it’s time to see how LIV Golf fills the gap left by Patrick Reed, as in theory all teams were closed. It has definitely not been a good winter for the Saudi league. It is good news for the DP World Tour, which will have Reed all year, and for the PGA Tour, which will recover him next September.
