After his win in Dubai, Patrick Reed faces a decision as his LIV Golf contract remains unsigned with season start in Riyadh approaching.In a press conference following his victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, Texan Patrick Reed discussed his future in the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. He was asked whether he would participate in LIV Golf’s season opener in Riyadh in early February, as he had previously given evasive answers. Reed, who has been with LIV Golf playing for the 4Aces GC team since June 2022, initially said he “should be ready” for the next LIV Golf season, prompting further questions during the press conference.
LIV Golf Contract Not Yet Renewed
It emerged that the 35-year-old has not extended his LIV Golf contract and aims to finalize the details with the Saudi league within approximately two weeks before the LIV Golf Riyadh event from February 4 to 7. “We are still working on the contract details,” Reed said, adding, “We are not finished yet.” Reed explained that during tournament phases he prefers not to discuss business matters, saying Mondays to Wednesdays are the only times to talk about such things. “When I came here this week, I knew that from Thursday onwards I’d focus solely on golf,” he said. “From tonight and tomorrow, we can talk about other things again.”
Patrick Reed: “I Currently Plan to Compete in Riyadh”
Reed is also entered for the upcoming DP World Tour event, the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship. Despite the uncertainty, he anticipates renewing his contract, stating, “I haven’t spoken to the team at home or anything yet, but at the moment, I plan to compete in Riyadh, and I’d be surprised if we don’t.” Over four years with LIV Golf, Reed placed three times among the top seven in overall standings and won his first individual LIV Golf event last season in Dallas. He remained active outside LIV as well, playing 18 world ranking tournaments last year, after only ten outside LIV the previous year. Ten of those events were on the DP World Tour, where Reed holds a lifetime membership—despite ongoing fines due to his LIV involvement. Reed mentioned earlier this week that he is willing to pay whatever is necessary to remain active on the DP World Tour.
DP World Tour as a Potential Path Back to the PGA Tour
Following his Hero Dubai Desert Classic win, Reed returned to the top 30 in the world golf rankings, currently 29th. If he does not return to LIV, he sees the DP World Tour as a route back to the PGA Tour. Unlike Brooks Koepka, who marked his PGA return at the Farmers Insurance Open, Reed cannot easily return because his Masters victory in 2018 falls outside the return program’s criteria that requires a major title by 2022 at the latest. “If I don’t play LIV this year, that would of course be one way to play more on this tour (DP World Tour), try to secure one of the top 10 spots in the Race to Dubai and thus enable my return to the PGA Tour,” he said.