Patrick Reed has taken his first step towards a PGA Tour comeback, returning to DP World Tour motion only a day after asserting his departure from LIV Golf.
In his first begin for the reason that announcement, Reed carded a one‑below 71 on the Bahrain Championship at Royal GC, leaving him six pictures off the lead.
The 2018 Masters champion joined LIV in 2022, however not too long ago signalled his curiosity in re-joining the PGA Tour after fellow American Brooks Koepka was granted a pathway again by the brand new Returning Participant Program.
On Wednesday, Reed confirmed he’s leaving LIV and can compete on the DP World Tour for the rest of 2026.
He additionally acknowledged he intends to return to the PGA Tour in 2027 as a previous champion member. The PGA Tour, in a parallel assertion, mentioned Reed is “seeking reinstatement for the 2027 season”.
Reed mentioned his choice adopted “careful thought and consideration,” including that he’s eligible to play in PGA Tour occasions later this yr. He additionally reaffirmed his dedication to the DP World Tour, the place he holds Honorary Lifetime Membership.
“A traditionalist at heart,” Reed mentioned he felt he was “born to play on the PGA Tour,” calling it the place the place his skilled story started alongside his spouse, Justine.
In accordance with the Related Press, the PGA Tour despatched a memo to gamers outlining the trail again for gamers like Reed, who didn’t match into the pathway through which Koepka returned, which was solely open to those that had received a serious or The Gamers Championship since 2022.
Reed is eligible to return to PGA Tour motion a yr on from his most up-to-date LIV look, which got here on August 24, 2025. The primary 2026 PGA Tour match he may function in can be the Biltmore Championship Asheville from September 17-20.
The 35-year-old will not be going through further self-discipline from the PGA Tour as a result of he resigned his membership when he left for LIV and was not a part of the antitrust lawsuit filed in opposition to the PGA Tour.
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The PGA Tour mentioned: “Patrick Reed has informed the PGA Tour of his desire to return.
“A nine-time PGA Tour winner, he’s looking for reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership for the 2027 season, enjoying out of the previous champion class.
“On account of resigning his membership in 2022 previous to violating any PGA Tour Rules, Patrick is eligible to compete on the PGA Tour as a non-member starting on August 25, 2026. He can also pursue improved PGA Tour standing through the DP World Tour.
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After successful the Dubai Desert Traditional, Patrick Reed admitted victory was ‘quite a bit more durable than I anticipated’
“Similar to anyone reinstated under the Returning Member Program, any former PGA Tour member returning to the PGA Tour would be ineligible for participation in the Player Equity Program through 2030.”
Whereas Reed is looking for to make use of his 9 PGA Tour victories to return prior to now champion class, he may additionally safe a full card if he’s among the many prime 10 gamers within the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai who are usually not already PGA Tour members.
Reed’s victory on the Dubai Dessert Traditional on Sunday lifted him to second within the Race to Dubai and as much as twenty ninth on the earth rankings, which ought to allow him to function in all 4 majors this yr.
‘LIV at all times an advocate for participant motion’
LIV Golf reacted to affirmation of Reed’s departure with a press release insisting the Saudi-funded tour has “always been an advocate for player movement.”
The LIV assertion mentioned: “We were not able to come to terms with Patrick on a potential contract extension. We’re grateful for everything he contributed during his time on the 4Aces at LIV Golf and wish him the best.
“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.
“As we glance ahead, our focus stays on constructing groups and a league that followers can consider in and gamers enjoy-those who compete on the highest degree, play the sport the fitting manner, and perceive the duty to develop the sport all over the world by participating followers and celebrating companions.
“We’re building the world’s golf league and every decision we make is guided by what’s best for the long-term future of the game, our players, and fans.”
‘One other large blow to LIV’
Sky Sports activities Information reporter Jamie Weir reacts to Patrick’s Reed’s choice to give up LIV Golf:
It is my understanding that for fairly a while Patrick Reed has been annoyed and dissatisfied with the restricted schedule out there to him on LIV.
He’s a golfer who enjoys enjoying and competing and has at all times seemed to complement his sparse LIV calendar with DP World Tour occasions. I’m additionally conscious of a number of different high-profile names at LIV who really feel equally and are eyeing up alternatives to return to one of many two important world excursions.
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Sky Sports activities’ Jamie Weir discusses why Brooks Koepka has been allowed to return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf below the brand new Returning Member Program
That is one other large blow to LIV, maybe not on the identical scale as Brooks Koepka, however a blow nonetheless. Their signings this low season haven’t been notably eye-catching and Reed’s departure simply reinforces the impression that the LIV experiment is starting to unravel.
It’s a enormous enhance to the DP World Tour to have a participant of his stature competing extra recurrently of their tournaments during 2026, and it’s one other coup for the PGA Tour to have him returning this autumn.
Reed is a serious champion, one of many sport’s true artists in the best way he performs and, while he is admittedly divisive and has discovered himself embroiled in quite a few controversial incidents, this solely makes him one in every of golf’s extra intriguing characters.
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