It is hard to ignore the timing of Patrick Reed’s comments about his future with LIV Golf. The five-year mark since his last win on the PGA Tour is coming up, and he is now openly weighing his next move.
Reed mentioned on Sunday that he has not yet signed a contract extension with LIV for 2026. Even so, it would be a real surprise if he did not tee it up in Riyadh next month.
Still, for LIV, the uncertainty around Reed does not help. He may not be the dominant force he once was, but his presence still means something in golf circles.
Looking back at Patrick Reed’s historic win at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open
Brooks Koepka returns to the PGA Tour this week, stepping back into action at the Farmers Insurance Open held at Torrey Pines.
It is a tournament that holds significance for another reason as well, as it was where Reed claimed victory by five strokes in 2021.
His win, though, is also tied to a moment of controversy. During the third round, the San Antonio native took a drop after his ball was ruled embedded – a decision that sparked debate at the time. Later reviews showed he followed all procedures correctly and avoided any penalty.
Beyond that incident, Reed’s performance included a unique feat. Despite hitting just 61 per cent of greens in regulation – ranking 63rd out of the 79 players who made the cut – his short game carried him through.
Golf Digest highlighted an impressive stat: Justin Ray noted that Reed became the first player since records began to win a PGA Tour event by three or more shots while ranking outside the top 60 in greens in regulation.
Patrick Reed’s career summed up in one event
In a lot of ways, that week captured the story of Reed’s career as well as any other tournament he has played.
He has been involved in more than a few controversies over the years, but there is no denying his short game talent. He has always been remarkable around the greens.
Just recently, Billy Foster compared Reed’s short game to Seve Ballesteros’ skills, which is high praise coming from someone who knew Seve well.
While some fans may never fully get behind him and might prefer he stays with LIV Golf, it seems likely he will make a return to the PGA Tour at some point. And when that happens, it will definitely give people something to talk about.
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