There was probably a moment on Sunday when LIV Golf would have preferred not to see Patrick Reed come out on top at the Dubai Desert Classic.
He drew attention with his standout play on the DP World Tour, but the spotlight quickly shifted to comments the 35-year-old made afterwards, revealing he had not yet signed a contract with LIV Golf for 2026.
Reed’s win gave him plenty of bargaining power. Before the event, he had even spoken positively about the PGA Tour.
With the start of the LIV season just around the corner, time was running short for them to finalise an agreement.
How LIV Golf responded to Patrick Reed’s win as questions around his future grew
Reed’s departure from LIV Golf was announced on Wednesday. He is scheduled to play most of the season on the DP World Tour before making his return to the PGA Tour in 2027.
The Saudi-backed league were said to be eager to keep hold of the 2018 Masters champion. And there was a feeling inside the league that a new deal was close before things fell apart.
According to The Telegraph, LIV thought they had secured Reed’s future after speaking with his representatives on the Sunday night following his win.
The report also suggests that an agreement had been reached on contract terms. As late as Tuesday evening, some within LIV still believed a deal was imminent.
However, Todd Lewis of Golf Channel reported that Reed contacted PGA Tour officials two days after Brooks Koepka’s return was announced, looking to find out what steps he would need to take for his own return.
With more players reportedly considering a switch back from LIV Golf, it remains to be seen how this latest chapter will influence those decisions moving forward.
How Patrick Reed’s exit signals bigger issues for LIV
Reed was not among the biggest names in LIV Golf. Most of the attention had been on Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, especially after Koepka’s exit, while Reed was not eligible for the Returning Member Program.
Still, he is a major champion, has won on LIV in 2025, and is currently ranked inside the world’s top 30. Whether people are fans or critics, he remains a player who draws strong opinions across the sport.
His choice to walk away raises fresh questions about where LIV is heading. Reed has always appreciated his time on the DP World Tour, but it is telling that he is willing to spend months in Europe just to clear a path back to PGA Tour eligibility.
No offer from LIV was going to sway him otherwise.
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