Patrick Reed leaving LIV will play DP World Tour, remains suspended PGA Tour

 

By Gabby Herzig

Patrick Reed is leaving LIV Golf to pursue an eventual return to the PGA Tour, he announced Wednesday.

Reed, who won the DP World Tour’s Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday, will compete on the European-focused circuit for the remainder of this season while serving a suspension from the PGA Tour. He’ll be eligible to compete again on the PGA Tour starting on Aug. 25, 2026 — one year removed from his last LIV Golf event

“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,” Reed said in a statement posted on his social media accounts. “I am very fortunate for the opportunities that have come my way and grateful for the life we have created. I am moving forward in my career, and I look forward to competing 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.”

The announcement of Reed’s pathway back to the tour comes as former LIV golfer Brooks Koepka makes his return this week at the Farmers Insurance Open in San Diego. It is also on the heels of Reed making it clear after his Dubai win that he had not signed a new contract with LIV for 2026. He was wearing 4Aces apparel at the time, and LIV celebrated his victory on its social media accounts and website.

“Over the last four years, I have learned a lot about myself, about who I am and who I am not, and for that I am forever grateful. To Dustin Johnson, the Aces, and LIV Golf, I want to thank you for the memories we shared and created together,” Reed wrote.

Koepka, a five-time major champion, became eligible for immediate reinstatement to the PGA Tour through a new program specifically targeting major winners from 2022 to 2025. Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith also fit the criteria, but the PGA Tour has acknowledged it expects the three to let the Feb. 2 deadline pass.

Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, is ineligible for the Returning Members Program. However, the PGA Tour evaluated Reed’s timeline for return based on several factors. 

Reed resigned his PGA Tour membership upon joining LIV Golf in June 2022, meaning he did not incur penalties while competing in unauthorized events with the Saudi-backed league. Therefore, Reed can begin to compete on the PGA Tour again after the standard one-year suspension — but only as a non-member. That means he can tee it up in fall events only if a tournament invites him as a sponsor exemption or if he plays his way in via a one-time Monday qualifier. In 2027, Reed can apply for reinstatement as a full member of the Tour.

As part of his lifetime honorary membership on the DP World Tour, Reed can compete in the few events that are co-sanctioned with the PGA Tour this summer, such as the ISCO Championship in Kentucky and the Genesis Scottish Open. He’ll also be eligible for a captain’s pick for the 2026 Presidents Cup team. Currently ranked No. 29 in the world by the OWGR, Reed is expected to compete in all four major championships.

Reed will have past champion status on the PGA Tour in 2027, but his best chance at playing a full schedule will be by performing at the highest level in Europe to improve his status. He’s currently ranked No. 2 in the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, and the top 10 players on those standings earn their PGA Tour cards at the end of the season.

Like Koepka, Reed will forfeit an opportunity to collect equity in the tour until 2030. However, Reed will not be required to make the same $5 million donation to charity.

In a statement posted to X more than an hour after his announcement, LIV Golf said, “LIV has always been an advocate for player movement and recognizes that when golf settles into a new normal, players will not only have the right but the opportunity to play golf when and where they want.”

Reed, 35, has won nine times on the PGA Tour, including his one major championship. He was known and labeled as one of the tour’s strongest and most consistent villains. Rules controversies have followed him since his collegiate career began at Georgia (he later transferred to Augusta State), and onto the PGA Tour. In 2019, he was penalized for moving sand in a waste bunker at the Hero World Challenge.

Reed has repeatedly denied all allegations and has not been afraid to take legal action to clear his name — including a $750 million defamation lawsuit against Golf Channel and several members of the golf media.

He accused the group of engaging in anticompetitive conduct and attempting to undermine the upstart LIV Golf league.

The lawsuits were later dismissed, and his lawyer, Larry Klayman, has since had his law license suspended for unrelated reasons.

Upon joining LIV in June 2022, Reed announced that he had resigned from the PGA Tour. He joined Dustin Johnson’s team, the 4Aces, and has one individual title since making his debut. Reed has consistently shone brightest at the Masters, with two top-five finishes in the last three years.

The PGA Tour also clarified the pathways for return for three former LIV Golf members: Kevin Na, Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford. Na is still facing disciplinary action, while Perez and Swafford can begin competition in January 2027.

“Each situation is consistently evaluated under our existing regulations and policies,” the PGA Tour wrote in the letter to its membership.

By Gabby Herzig

Koepka returns, 5 Canadians at the Farmers Insurance at Torrey Pines... TEE TIMES

PGA  Tour: Farmers Insurance Open Tee Times Leaderboard

They say absence makes the heart grow stronger, Brooks Koepka who was so keen to leave the PGA Tour for a reported signing bonus of $250,000,000 at LIV 3 1/2 years ago says now after amassing a Saudi Kings ransom,, he say he's all grown up, has "a wife Jenn and a son Crew and he says repeatedly "just want to play golf again and " I love the grind"

That begs the questions, is that the same grind he hated enough to leave and what game was he playing for all that money at LIV ?

So in a classic case of having your cake and eating it too, and with a stamp of approval from Tiger he has been welcomed back this week at Torrey Pines like the prodigal son.

Kind of sickening to be honest with you.

Meanwhile there are 5 Canadians in the field,, click on the TEE Times link above for their pairings.

Mac Hughes, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, Adam Svensson, AJ Ewart and Taylor Pendrith.

The weather forecast is the opposite of winter in Canada, sunny, 75*f, no precipitation and not much wind.

Bryan Angus

Reed aims to continue his success at Bahrain Championship.. TEE TIMES

 DP World Tour : Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship 

• • Leaderboard
  Tee Times

With one trophy already in his possession this year, Patrick Reed is hoping to continue his strong start to 2026 on the DP World Tour at this week’s Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship.

Patrick Reed is second on the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World

The American arrives in the Kingdom of Bahrain as the top-ranked player in the field after his impressive four-shot victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic saw him rise to 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Victory at the first Rolex Series event of the campaign saw Reed claim his fourth DP World Tour title, but with his previous wins all coming in co-sanctioned events – the 2018 Masters Tournament and two World Golf Championships events – the triumph took on even greater significance personally.

A member of the DP World Tour since 2015, the 35-year-old knows the value of performing in the schedule’s blue riband events and stands second in the Race to Dubai Rankings Delivered by DP World – less than 400 points adrift of Jayden Schaper, who is also teeing it up this week.

While the stage at Royal Golf Club may be smaller than at Emirates Golf Club, Reed is glad to be competing again rather than toasting his success and knows a top-two finish could see him overtake the in-form Schaper.

"The game feels really solid and we’re looking forward to getting right back at it and getting playing here this week, and just trying to take that confidence in the way I was playing last week into this week," he said.

"The first couple of weeks out on the road, at the start of the season after an off-season, is really to kind of see if what you worked on during the off-season actually worked.

"And to come out and play the way we did, especially to go out and get a win at such a demanding golf course last week, definitely allows me to have the confidence and hopefully jumpstart to having a really good year and have one of those years where I’m holding up more than one trophy."

Renowned as being one of the best short-game players, Reed was informed last week that his ability around the greens had drawn comparisons to the late, great Seve Ballesteros by the Spaniard’s former caddie Billy Foster.

While that part of his game has always been a focus, Reed insists a newly instilled mission of improving other areas is something he hopes will result in a greater consistency of performance.

“For me, the biggest thing was obviously hitting fairways - drive the ball a little better, get the irons a little sharper, just allow the short game to continue being short game,” he said of his approach leading up into 2026.

“I think the biggest thing in my career, I focus so much on having my short game save me, and it’s whenever I am hitting the ball well, that’s when I’m using the short game as my weapon.

“This year, the focus was let’s hit the ball a little better, let’s get the ball striking back, so then we can go out and shoot lower numbers and just be more consistent off the tee and on the approaches, so that I can allow the short game to be a weapon rather than a saviour.”

After beginning the year at the Dubai Invitational, Reed is making his third start on the DP World Tour in as many weeks as part of the International Swing and returns to Bahrain for the second year in a row after finishing tied 60th on his debut.

“It’s a little bit softer this year, last year was firm and fast, the fairways were running out,” he said.

“So, it’s going to play a little longer this year compared to last, but it’s one of these golf courses that is going to be demanding, not only off the tee and out in the fairways, but your iron game has to be on point because the greens are large and there’s a lot of slope in them.

“You have to play certain quadrants of these greens, so this golf course is a really good test. If the wind continues to pick up, it’s going to be a little more challenging, but it’s really just a premium in ball striking and staying patient.”

europeantour.com

Bryan Angus (edit)

Scheffler cruises at American Express while Blades Brown sensational week ends T18... Final results

   PGA Tour:  American Express  Leaderboard 

Scott Scheffler shot a final round 66 -27 to win this year's American Express by 4 shots and in doing so won his 20th event before turning 30, and passed the $100,000,0000 mark in career earnings. He was met by his wife and daughter afterward, and is is apparent from Mrs Scheffler there is a new arrival due any time soon.

The real story of the day was the 18 year old recent high school graduate Blades Brown vying to become the youngest winner since Young Tom Morris won the Open as a 17 year old in 1868

His day went sideways with a double bogey at the 5th, while Scheffler was on a birdie run, he ended up with 74 T18, but he enjoyed his week and in youthful parlance said playing with Scheffler was "insane"

Jason Day 64, Ryan Gerard 65, Andrew Putnam 68 and Matt McCarty 68 all T2 -23

Canadians

Nick Taylor T27  65 65 72 69 -17

AJ Ewart T44 71 65 67 70 -15

Bryan Angus

Teenager Blades Brown vying to be the youngest winner since Young Tom Morris...... American Express 54 hole results

    PGA Tour:  American Express Tee Times Leaderboard

There are 9 players within 4 shots as round 4 begins in the Coachella Valley for the American Express, but the exploit's of the 18 year old from Tennessee who just finished high school two weeks ago are in the spotlight.

Si Woo Kim has the lead after his 66 at La Quinta -22 total, right behind him T2 Blades Brown who matched Scott Scheffler with 68 -21 on the more difficult Stadium Course. These  make up the final pairing.

Eric Cole 66 and Wynham Clark 66 both -20 on La Quinta are T4.

As popular as Scheffler is the American public and media he is the favourite to win, however the storybook finish is with the kid.

In 1931, 18 year old Charles Kocsis won the Michigan Open, but that was deemed a Regional Event, Young Tom Morris won his first Open in 1868 as a 17 year old.

Canadians

Nick Taylor T24  65 65 72 -14

AJ Ewart T37 71 65 67 -13

Taylor Pendrith, Sudarshan Yellamaraju. Adam Svensson and Mac Hughes all MC.

Bryan Angus

Patrick Reed wins the Hero Dubai Desert Classic... Final Results

    DP World Tour : Hero Dubai Desert Classic Tee Times Leaderboard

The wind finally picked up, blowing at 20-25kph on Sunday at this Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the scoring has gone up with it.

The leaders Patrick Reed is +1 13 through 9 holes, and playing partner Spaniard David Puig - 1, -11 as they begin their final nine.

Frenchman Julien Guerrier is 3rd -3 through 12 -9, and two time winner already this year, South African Hayden Schaper is -3 through 13 holes -8 in 4th.

The marquee names didn't fair so well this week on the Emirates course.

Shane Lowry T26 70 71 74 70 -3, Rory T32 73 69 71 73 -2, Tyrrell Hatton T32 70 69 76 71 -2,while Tommy Fleetwood T41 73 72 73 69 -1.

Final edit

Patrick Reed claimed the fourth DP World Tour title of his career with a composed four-shot victory at the 2026 Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

The 35-year-old stayed patient on a testing front nine as he carded eight pars and one dropped shot to reach the turn with his overnight advantage cut in half to two shots.

David Puig completed a hat-trick of birdies from the eighth to briefly sit one back before Reed signed for his first birdie at the tenth.

But when Reed birdied the 13th and Puig dropped a shot on the same hole, the World Number 44 regained his four-shot lead with five holes to play and he never looked back.

Reed parred his way home for a -14 total to become the sixth American winner of the Dallah trophy with his first Rolex Series event success at Emirates Golf Club.

"I think the biggest thing this week that was so special is I've won on every tour except this one," Reed said at his winner's press conference.

"Even though online it says I have three wins, one was a Major and two were WGC events. So they are all co-sanctioned events.

"It's something that's always kind of been eating at me, sitting there not actually having a win over here.

"And to come to a place where we had a chance in 2023 and allowed that one to kind of slip by, it was very important for me to come out here and play well and to have that opportunity; and to close it off means a lot to me, especially doing it here in Dubai, which I love coming to, makes it even more special."

Andy Sullivan fought back from a shaky front nine as he finished birdie-birdie in his one-under 71 to sit in solo second at -10

Frenchman Julien Guerrier carded an eagle, two birdies and a bogey for his best finish at a Rolex Series event in third at -9

Denmark's Nicolai Højgaard, Francesco Molinari and Jayden Schaper were one shot further back -8, while Portugal's Ricardo Gouveia, Englishman Marcus Armitage and Puig, who was given a two-shot penalty for grounding a club in the bunker at the last, finished at -7.

Bryan Angus

Teenager Blades Brown flirts with 59 to lead American Express.. 36 hole results

   PGA Tour:  American Express Tee Times Leaderboard

An 18 year old from Nashville, Tenn., called Blades (great golf name) Brown is making news on the PGA Tour. The young phenom turned pro at 17 while still in high school and made the Korn Ferry Tour.

Johnnie Izquierdo

He is in the field at this American Express on a sponsors exemption and has posted 67 60, just missing a 6 footer on his final hole on Nicklaus Tournament course for a 59. 

As expected Scott Scheffler is T1 with Blades, shooting 63 64 -17 on what he calls the "easiest scoring event" of the year, with the pros playing 3 California resort courses, La Quinta, Pete Dye Stadium course, and the Nicklaus Tournament Course.

The cut will be made after 54 holes for the top 65 and ties.

Canadians 

Nick Taylor T6  65 65 -14

Taylor Pendrith T48  67 68 -9

AJ Ewart T62   71 65 -8

Sudarshan Yellamaraju T98   70 68 -6

Adam Svensson T140    74 70 E

Mac Hughes T140    72 72 E

Bryan Angus

s