Patrick Reed has been a member of LIV Golf since the unsanctioned league was founded in 2022 and has come under fire for joining the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit
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Image: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
Patrick Reed, the former Masters champion, has defended his decision to join LIV Golf, despite accusations of selling out. He joined the breakaway circuit in its inaugural season in 2022, signing a lucrative contract with the unsanctioned league.
Despite the benefits of big prize money and a lighter schedule, membership has come at a significant cost. Since joining the Saudi Arabia-funded league, LIV players have seen their Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) plummet, with Reed dropping from world No. 6 to 138th.
His win at the Masters in 2018 earned him a lifetime exemption for Augusta National, but his exemptions for other majors have expired. This year saw an end to his streak of 42 consecutive major starts, as he missed the US Open and Open Championship due to his low ranking.
Reed’s absence from Pinehurst No. 2 and Royal Troon seemed to confirm the criticism he faced when he joined LIV, with warnings that it would harm his chances to compete and win prestigious events. However, in an interview with Bunkered, the 34-year-old insisted that success on the golf course is his primary motivation.
The Texas native has been vocal in his criticism of the golf establishment amid LIV’s failure to secure OWGR accreditation. He recently launched another attack on the authorities for “depriving” LIV members of opportunities.
“I don’t know a single professional golfer in the world that doesn’t want to win a major, or doesn’t care about winning majors on any professional golf tour,” he commented. “Everyone in my circle has always cared about winning and competing in majors.
( Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
“The reason we all play this game is to win golf tournaments and to compete and win major championships against our peers, no matter what tour they play on or from. Depriving LIV golfers the opportunity to compete in majors simply because we do not play on the PGA Tour is not a good enough reason or acceptable to me.”
“And insinuating or suggesting that LIV players do not care about majors as a way to justify or create an excuse as to what is actually going on in major championships is simply wrong and not true. Anyone who is accepting of such a suggestion is out of touch with the players and our views.”
Reed, who hasn’t yet clinched a victory at a LIV Golf event, had a rather average 2024 season, finishing 20th in the standings, with three top-10s in his 13 starts this year. Since being banned from the PGA Tour for joining LIV, Reed has participated in a handful of DP World Tour events, including last week’s Spanish Open where he tied for 10th place.
