Patrick Reed is one of six players from the LIV Golf circuit who will compete in the DP World Tour’s season opener at the Dubai Desert Classic later this month.
The 2025 LIV campaign will get underway on February 6 in Riyadh, but Reed and co. will begin their year two weeks earlier with a start on the DP World Tour. Legion XIII teammates Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton’s entry had been confirmed late last year, with the former making his debut in the event.
And following the release of the tournament’s entry list on Thursday, it was confirmed that four other LIV players would compete, with Reed, Dean Burmester, Adrian Meronk and Thomas Pieters also in the field.
Reed is no stranger to the event, having last competed in the Desert Classic two years ago in 2023. And it proved to be a week of controversy for the LIV star who came up against PGA Tour loyalist Patrick Reed in a battle that started on the range and ended on the final hole of the tournament.
Their fallout started prior to the event kicking off, where McIlroy appeared to blank Reed on the range after the LIV star reached out to him during practice. After the Northern Irishman opted not to respond, reports suggested Reed then tossed a tee at his rival before heading on his way.
McIlroy later revealed that he opted to ignore Reed having been served court papers by his legal team on Christmas Eve, just a month earlier. “I was subpoenaed by his lawyer on Christmas Eve,” the four-time major winner said at the time.
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“Trying to have a nice time with my family and someone shows up on your doorstep and delivers that, youre not going to take that well. Im living in reality, I dont know where hes living. If I were in his shoes, I wouldnt expect a hello or a handshake… I was down by my bag and he came up to me.
“I was busy working and sort of doing my practice. I didnt feel the need to acknowledge him. I didnt see a tee coming my direction at all, but apparently, thats what happened. And if roles were reversed and Id have thrown that tee at him, Id be expecting a lawsuit.
Come the final round, McIlroy and Reed found themselves both in contention to win the event, before the former eventually prevailed by a single shot. McIlroy then defended his crown and won the title for a record-breaking fourth time in 2024, and will be back in the Middle East in January with the hopes of securing victory No. 5 at Emirates Golf Club.
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