It is hard to believe it has been nearly a decade since Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed faced off in one of the most memorable Ryder Cup matches ever.
Fans will remember the Sunday singles at Hazeltine, where McIlroy and Reed traded punches in what turned out to be an incredible showdown.
The two have not exactly been on good terms since then, with tensions rising even further after Reed joined LIV Golf back in 2022.
But Reed’s return to the PGA Tour now seems more likely than ever.
Rory McIlroy responds to Patrick Reed’s recent comments
Reed has since gone on to call the PGA Tour the biggest stage in golf, and added that he would struggle to turn down an offer if one came along, just as Koepka did.
He also mentioned that he has not signed a contract with LIV Golf for the 2026 season.
When asked after the latest TGL event about what impact Koepka’s return had, McIlroy made it clear how Reed’s remarks highlight a shift in perspective among some players.
He responded: “Yeah, I think it says more about Brooks than anything else. He obviously is a very competitive person and wants to compete at the highest level. I think he made the decision that he thought competing at the highest level meant coming back to the PGA Tour.
“You’ve seen others say this recently. Patrick Reed said it in Dubai last week. It seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realise that they’re not getting everything that they wanted out of going over there, and that’s obviously a great thing for the PGA Tour.”
Why Rory McIlroy might not be eager to see Patrick Reed return to the PGA Tour
Koepka’s return was well-received, but Reed could be a tougher sell. The PGA Tour found the right approach for Koepka with their Returning Members Program, but extending the eligibility window just for Reed would draw plenty of criticism.
So do not be surprised if Reed is playing in Riyadh instead of returning to the PGA Tour when the LIV season kicks off.
Still, adding another chapter to his rivalry with the Northern Irishman would bring plenty of eyes back to the PGA Tour.
The pair had a close finish at the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic, with McIlroy birdieing his final two holes to edge Reed by one stroke and later calling it ‘sweeter than it should be’.
Their relationship hit a low point not long before that. According to Sky Sports, McIlroy was subpoenaed on Christmas Eve by a lawyer representing Reed in a defamation suit against multiple organisations.
There is still some work needed before Reed would be fully accepted back into the Tour. And there is always the possibility he is simply using this talk as leverage in his ongoing negotiations with LIV Golf.
But from an entertainment perspective alone, bringing him back into the mix could add real value – and even McIlroy might admit that.
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