There was likely to be a moment on Sunday afternoon when LIV Golf probably wished that Patrick Reed had not emerged victorious at the Dubai Desert Classic.
Patrick Reed put himself in the spotlight with a superb performance on the DP World Tour. But very quickly, the focus shifted to comments he made in his subsequent press conference as he revealed that he had not signed a LIV Golf contract for 2026.
Is Patrick Reed leaving the end of LIV Golf?
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The 35-year-old had given himself all the leverage in the world with his win. Reed also lauded the PGA Tour ahead of the event.
And with the first tournament of the LIV season looming, the league was running out of time to get a deal done.
How LIV Golf reacted to Patrick Reed’s win amid doubts over his future
On Wednesday, the news came that Reed had indeed left LIV Golf. He will spend the majority of the season on the DP World Tour before returning to the PGA Tour for 2027.
It is a huge blow for LIV. And it appears that they were desperate to ensure that the 2018 Masters champion did not walk away.
According to a report from The Telegraph, LIV were convinced Reed was staying after speaking with his management team on Sunday evening after his victory.
They had agreed to meet his contract demands. And as recently as Tuesday evening, staff on LIV believed that Reed was on the verge of signing a new deal.
It is a seismic moment in the battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf. According to Golf Channel reporter Todd Lewis, Reed reached out to those at Ponte Vedra just two days after Brooks Koepka‘s return was announced. He hoped to learn what he would need to do to come back himself.
Why Reed’s decision looks so ominous for LIV’s future
Reed was not one of the biggest superstars on LIV. All eyes were really on Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau following news of Koepka’s departure. Reed, of course, did not qualify for the Returning Member Program.
Do you think Patrick Reed is treated unfairly by golf fans?
He's certainly not the most popular player in the game…
However, he is a major champion. He is a player who won on LIV in 2025. He is a top 30 player in the world right now. And he is someone who attracts strong opinion whether you love him or hate him.
Reed’s decision has left a massive question mark hanging over LIV’s future. While he has always enjoyed his time on the DP World Tour, it certainly says plenty that he is ready to spend months on the European circuit just to make sure that he can eventually get back to the PGA Tour.
And no amount of money from LIV was going to change his mind.
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