Patrick Reed may have won the Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour, but it is comments he made after his victory that will catch the most attention in the days to come.
It did appear that LIV Golf had finalised their lineup for the 2026 season with confirmation that Harold Varner III had joined Smash GC following Brooks Koepka‘s exit.
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Of course, there has been plenty of interest in whether the likes of Jon Rahm or Bryson DeChambeau will take up the opportunity to return to the PGA Tour through the Returning Member Program.
But there is another name who has flirted with the idea of leaving LIV in the near future.
Patrick Reed says whether he is in talks with the PGA Tour
Patrick Reed seems determined to leave a question mark hanging over his future. Reed labelled the PGA Tour the best stage in the world, noting that he would have to consider his options if he was presented with the chance to return.
And Reed sprung a surprise following his win in Dubai on Sunday by revealing that he has technically not yet signed a contract for the 2026 season.
The 2018 Masters champion does not qualify for the Returning Members Program as things stand. Nevertheless, he was asked about whether he was in talks with the PGA Tour about coming back.
“Not right now,” he replied.
Reed may perhaps be the player who ends up putting the PGA Tour in a difficult position.
The PGA Tour may now have a dilemma as Reed confirms his future is up in the air
You can understand why those at Ponte Vedra made sure that the door was open to only a handful of players when it became clear that Koepka would like to come back.
Perhaps the PGA Tour could also justify welcoming back Rolex Series winners on the DP World Tour. Reed, meanwhile, could perhaps spend the year on the European circuit and try and earn a PGA Tour card that way.
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Brooks Koepka has left, while they have signed the likes of Laurie Canter and Thomas Detry so far
It would certainly not be the best look for the PGA Tour to move the goalposts. That would all but confirm that the current offer to the likes of DeChambeau and Rahm will be open again in the future.
But Reed leaving LIV now would be a nightmare for the league with the season opener just around the corner. So perhaps the time has come for those lines of communication to open up.
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