Patrick Reed and Dustin Johnson are among the LIV Golf stars playing at the International Series Philippines this week.
Both players have had a busy few weeks on the DP World Tour. Reed and Johnson played the Dunhill Links, and Reed took part in the Spanish Open in Madrid. As LIV Golf encourages participation in International Series events, Reed and Johnson are already ticking one off their list.
Reed had a solid season on LIV in 2025. He won in Dallas and finished seventh in the individual standings. Reed finished T3 at the BMW Championship, which featured a talented field of European Ryder Cup stars.
He hopes to follow that up with a good showing in the Philippines, but he identified something about Sta. Elena Golf & Country Club, which he thinks has the potential to expose some of the players in the field.
Patrick Reed said Philippines course can expose weaknesses of players
As was the case on the DP World India Championship, which featured an incredibly narrow course in New Delhi, Sta. Elena presents a test of precision and placement. The layout makes dramatic use of tropical terrain, with trees lining fairways, and hazards littered around the course.
Reed said that it’s a test of a player’s versatility in their shot shaping, and that could expose some players.
He said, “I think the unique thing about this golf course is that you have to hit it both ways. You can’t set up and just hit a draw or a fade off every hole. You have to work the ball in both directions.
“You have to be smart on a lot of the holes. Some holes out there, especially 16, it’s just hard to get driver far enough left, so guess will be hitting less than driver off the tee and the second shot becomes a lot more difficult.
“Then guys who take driver are going to bring in trouble, trying to bring a short iron in. There is a lot of risk/reward so you have to be really comfortable with your golf game around here. It will expose any weakness you have, anything from iron play, to tee shots to short game.
“Because even with how soft the fairways are, the greens don’t spin. They make ball marks, they appear they are going to be soft, it’s just the ball doesn’t grab so you are going to have to have really good course management to leave the ball in the right spots and I feel like it’s unique, especially when it’s soft like this.
“You think you can throw darts but it doesn’t seem like it’s doing that these past two days.”
Trees can present a unique challenge for players, which is why Scottie Scheffler called for modern courses to plant more of them. With that said, expect an entertaining week of golf in the Philippines.
Dustin Johnson credits LIV Golf for growing the game
Johnson missed out on the Ryder Cup after a poor 2025 season, and despite shooting an opening round 64 at the Dunhill Links Championship, he finished T71 to continue that trend. He’ll be looking to change his fortunes with a different type of course.
LIV Golf recently introduced a requirement for all of its players to compete in two International Series events per year, which Johnson thought was a positive move.
He explained, “I think growing the game is very important. Obviously, LIV Golf has done a great job leading that effort.
“The International Series and the Asian Tour continue to expand golf’s reach by playing all over the world, bringing golf to parts of the world that I have never been to, and that a lot of golfers have never been to.
“I think this is great for the game. The game of golf is growing a lot, and playing in places like this really helps.”
Asia has been treated to some elite golf this fall. Collin Morikawa and Xander Schauffele played in Japan for the Baycurrent Classic, meanwhile, Rory McIlroy played in India with Tommy Fleetwood, Shane Lowry, and a host of 2025 Ryder Cup stars.
With Johnson and Reed headlining the International Series Philippines, players on LIV and the PGA Tour have committed to growing golf in Asia this fall.
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