Patrick Reed insists the pursuit of major championship glory is what motivates him the most after being accused of selling out when he joined LIV Golf.
Former Masters champion Reed joined the breakaway circuit during its inaugural season in 2022, signing a lucrative contract with the unsanctioned league. LIV doubtless comes with its perks – big prize money and a lighter schedule, in particular – but it has come at a significant cost to its members.
LIV players have plummeted down the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) since joining the Saudi Arabia-funded league, with former world No. 6 Reed now ranked 138th. While his win at the Masters in 2018 has earned him a lifetime exemption for Augusta National, his exemptions for the other majors have expired and a streak of 42 consecutive major starts came to an end this year, missing the U.S. Open and Open Championship due to his lowly ranking.
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Reed’s absence from Pinehurst No. 2 and Royal Troon appeared to validate the criticism he faced when he joined LIV, when he was warned he would damage his opportunities to compete and win the most prestigious events. But in an interview with Bunkered, the 34-year-old said success on the golf course is his biggest motivation.
The Texas native has been an outspoken critic of the golf establishment amid LIV’s failure to secure OWGR accreditation, and he launched a fresh attack on the authorities for “depriving” LIV members of opportunities.
Reed finished tied 10th at the Spanish Open last week (
Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
“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 remarked. “Everyone in my circle has always cared about winning and competing in majors.
“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 is yet to win a LIV Golf event and had a middling 2024 season, finishing in 20th place in the standings, with three top-10s in 13 starts this year. Since being barred from the PGA Tour for joining LIV, Reed has played a smattering of DP World Tour events, including last week’s Spanish Open where he finished in a tie for 10th place.
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