Patrick Reed sparks potential LIV Golf meltdown as he reveals contract stand-off earlier than 2026 season opener
Patrick Reed stormed to a win in the desert on Sunday and then charged into a revelation that his days as a LIV golfer could be numbered due to a contractual stand-off. Never a dull moment with that man.
His comments, which will only heighten the wider sense of unease at LIV since Brooks Koepka departed, were delivered barely an hour after Reed completed a four-shot victory at the Dubai Desert Classic.
By that stage, it had been a sedate final day. Borderline dull, in fact, such was his control of the field in this DP World Tour event. But then Reed mentioned that his LIV deal had expired and added it was not a foregone conclusion that he will tee up in the rebel circuit’s 2026 opener in Saudi Arabia on February 4.
He added that talks over an extension are yet to yield an outcome, leaving just 10 days for LIV to stump up or else risk losing another big name just weeks after Koepka re-joined the PGA Tour.
The string of disclosures started when Reed was asked to clarify remarks made earlier in the week, when he had cryptically said he was ‘supposed’ to be playing the first LIV event in Riyadh.
When pushed to explain what that meant on Sunday, he said: ‘We’re still finalizing the contract. We’re not complete on that yet.’
Patrick Reed is pictured during the final round of the Desert Dubai Classic, which he won
Shortly after lifting the trophy, he admitted uncertainty about playing on the LIV tour in 2026
Asked if he was in fact a free agent now, Reed said: ‘At the moment, yes, sir.’
Reed went on to admit he would be ‘surprised’ if he wasn’t playing in Saudi Arabia and confirmed talks with LIV would run through the early part of the coming week.
Whatever the caveats, it is nonetheless surprising that LIV have allowed one of their more recognizable players to get so close to the brink. Like him or loathe him, the divisive American has substantial profile in golf.
It would also seem he is not afraid to remind LIV that he has options elsewhere. Warming to his theme, or spying some leverage with this win, he laid out his choices if he does walk away: ‘Continue to play out here (on the DP World Tour) and be on the PGA Tour next year.’
The former is down to the fact that he has retained his DP World Tour membership throughout golf’s civil war. The latter concerns the disputed belief that the rebels would be allowed to return to the PGA Tour if they go a full year without playing on LIV.
Brooks Koepka, pictured with president Donald Trump, has returned to the PGA Tour
Yasir Al-Rumayyan is fighting to keep some of his biggest LIV Golf talents on the tour
In Reed’s case, the 2018 Masters champion cannot exploit the same contrived loophole as Koepka because he has not met the stipulation of having won a major or the Players Championship since 2022.
Reed added: ‘I mean, it’s just one of those things with contracts and stuff. There’s a lot of language and wording in contracts and everything, and really, at this point, I don’t know where everything stands. I mean, everything could have been done and complete.
‘But yeah, right now, I just want to enjoy this win and kind of get ready for next week.’
England’s Andy Sullivan finished second on 10 under par, four behind Reed, while Rory McIlroy was 12 off the pace after closing with a 73.
