Masters champion Patrick Reed revealed he is out of contract with the Saudi-backed league and could try to win back his place on the PGA Tour on the DP World Tour
Patrick Reed has revealed he is out of contract with LIV Golf and could return to the PGA Tour after his four-shot win at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
And the former American Ryder Cup star is in a stronger position to negotiate a new deal after this high-profile victory – and Brooks Koepka leaving the Saudi-backed tour last month.
The final day of the first Rolex Series event on the DP World Tour was an anti-climax in the rain until Reed dropped his bombshell in his victor’s press conference.
The 2018 Masters champion said earlier this week he would consider returning to the PGA Tour if he were to be offered the same deal as Koepka.
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And he joked on Friday that the first prize here of $1.53million (£1.12m) would pay any fines from the DP World Tour for playing on the Saudi-backed tour. Reed has banked the cash but then said he is yet to agree a new deal to tee up for LIV’s first event of the season in Riyadh on February 4.
“We’re still finalising the contract,” he said. “We’re not complete on that yet. Am I a free agent? At the moment, yes, sir. Starting tonight and tomorrow, we’ll get back to talking and things like that. Really just all kind of depends on everything. I haven’t talked to the team back home or anything like that. But at the moment, I plan on teeing it up there in Riyadh, and I’d be surprised if we’re not.”
Bryson DeChambeau is out of contract at the end of 2026 and wants a pay hike to sign a new contract as LIV’s biggest name. Now Captain America Reed, who is another box office name whether you like him or not, can demand more than the $40m deal he signed to join LIV in 2022. And he has choices.
Reed has always remained a member of the DP World Tour and the top 10 in the Race to Dubai earn a PGA Tour card next year. Asked his options if he does not sign for LIV, he said: “Continue to play out here and be in the Top 10 and be on the PGA TOUR next year. Good golf takes care of itself, right.
“It’s always kind of been that way from day one. If I ended up not playing on LIV this year, obviously it would be one of those things that I would be out here playing more on this tour and trying to secure one of those spots in the Top 10, and allow myself to get back on the PGA Tour.”
Reed started and finished the final round with a four-shot lead and finished with four straight pars for his 72. Now back in the world ’s top 30 to get him into all the Majors, he said: “It’s an amazing win. Hopefully I can carry that form on throughout the year and make some noise.”
Andy Sullivan closed with two birdies for a 71 to finish second and bank $990,000.
