Golf-Former Masters champion Reed leaving LIV Golf, eyes PGA Tour status for 2027

Jan 28 (Reuters) – Former Masters champion Patrick Reed has decided to leave Saudi-funded LIV Golf and is seeking the reinstatement of his PGA Tour membership for the 2027 season, the American said on Wednesday.

Reed, 35, is the second high-profile player to quit LIV Golf recently, following a similar move by five-times major winner Brooks Koepka, who was reinstated through a Returning Member Program by the PGA Tour two weeks ago.

A nine-times winner on the PGA Tour whose biggest triumph came at the 2018 Masters, Reed said he would compete on the European DP World Tour this season before rejoining the PGA Tour as a past champion in 2027. He won the DP World Tour’s high-profile Dubai Desert Classic on Sunday.

‘TRADITIONALIST AT HEART’

“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.

“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.”

As a result of resigning his PGA Tour membership in 2022 prior to joining LIV, Reed is eligible to compete on the U.S.-based circuit as a non-member beginning on August 25, a year on from his last LIV Golf event.

At that time, Reed would become eligible to compete through open qualifying or sponsor exemptions.

“We remain committed to strengthening the PGA Tour, serving our fans and welcoming back players who wish to return — through a consistent, policy based process,” the PGA Tour said in a memo sent to membership.

“We want to ensure fairness to our current members while maintaining competitive integrity and transparency in how we apply the regulations and non-member policies to former PGA Tour members who seek reinstatement — and to be clear, reinstatement terms are not negotiated or modified on a player by player basis.”

LIV EXIT

Reed, who has been on three U.S. Ryder Cup teams, was among the golfers who accepted lucrative signing bonuses to join LIV in 2022 where he played on former world number one Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces team.

He was part of the 4Aces quartet that won the inaugural LIV Golf team title in 2022 and then secured his first LIV Golf win last June when he prevailed in a four-man playoff in Dallas.

“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 Golf said in a statement.

“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.”

PATH BACK

The PGA Tour memo also outlined the path back for players like Reed, who does not meet the criteria for the recently announced Returning Member Program that is open only to golfers who have won a major or The Players Championship since 2022.

That program cleared the way for Koepka to make his return at this week’s Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego.

The PGA Tour’s memo also offered updates on the status of three former LIV players – Kevin Na, Pat Perez and Hudson Swafford – who the Tour says have all already reinstated their membership.

Perez and Swafford are eligible to return to PGA Tour-sanctioned competition on January 1, 2027 while a return date for Na, currently facing disciplinary action for outstanding violations, is still being determined.

(Reporting by Frank Pingue in TorontoEditing by Toby Davis)