Major winner Brooks Koepka has already quit LIV Golf to return to the PGA Tour (Image: Getty)
Patrick Reed has declared his departure from LIV Golf and his return to the PGA Tour, dealing another significant blow to the Saudi-backed league. Brooks Koepka, a five-time Major champion, will participate in the Farmers Insurance Open on Thursday after leaving LIV last month.
Reed, the 2018 Major winner who disclosed in Dubai that he had been unable to negotiate a new contract with LIV, has now announced his return to the US circuit. He is required to serve a one-year suspension, which commences from his final LIV event in August.
Ahead of the Bapco Energies Bahrain Championship on the DP World Tour, Reed stated: “After careful thought and consideration, my family and I have decided that I will no longer compete on the LIV Golf Tour. I am excited to announce that I am returning to the PGA TOUR as a past champion member for the 2027 season and am eligible to begin competing in PGA TOUR events later this year.
“I’m a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA TOUR, which is where my story began with my wife, Justine. I am very fortunate for the opportunities that have come my way and grateful for the life we have created.
“I am moving forward in my career, and I look forward to competing on the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour. I can’t wait to get back out there and revisit some of the best places on earth. I want to thank everyone involved for helping me make this decision.”
“Over the last four years, I have learned a lot about myself, about who I am and who I am not, and for that I am forever grateful. To Dustin Johnson, The Aces, and LIV Golf, I want to thank you for the memories we shared and created together.
“To golf fans around the world, I just want to thank you all for your continued support over the years. I just ask that you respect the decision we have made for our family, our children, and our future. Thank you for your continued support.”
Patrick Reed has confirmed he will return to the PGA Tour in 2027 (Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy used Reed’s decision as an example to explain why Koepka may have returned to the PGA Tour. “Patrick Reed said it in Dubai last week,” he said. “It seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realise that they’re not getting everything that they wanted out of going over there, and that’s obviously a great thing for the PGA Tour.”
The announcement represents a dramatic reversal, particularly as Reed had indicated just days earlier that he would be “surprised” if he wasn’t competing on the LIV Golf circuit this season, beginning with the Saudi Arabia tournament on February 4. He had stated at the time: “We’re still finalising the contract [with LIV].
“We’re not complete on that yet. It’s one of those things that I don’t like to talk business and stuff while I’m playing, and so it’s like Monday through Wednesday is the only time to really talk about it. It’s just one of those things that, getting here this week, I knew that once Thursday got here, just focus on golf and golf only.
“You know, starting tonight and tomorrow, we’ll get back to talking and things like that. The biggest thing for me right now is just go out and play well this week. I obviously got the win. Then hopefully carry that momentum into next week and hopefully compete late Sunday again.”
Meanwhile, when questioned about the prospect of returning to the PGA Tour, Reed said: “Not that I know of – not right now. Really just all kind of depends on everything.
This follows Koepka’s announcement earlier this week that he had consulted Tiger Woods after confirming his dedication to the PGA Tour, holding a private telephone conversation with the Career Grand Slam champion. Discussing the exchange, Koepka revealed: “I called him.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with Tiger and I felt like that was what I wanted to do. Once I had the opportunity to, I guess, get reinstated on the PGA Tour, it was exciting and I kind of didn’t really know what to do.
“Tiger was the first person that came to mind. I didn’t know Brian [Rolapp], I didn’t have a relationship with him obviously just because he’s pretty new. Jay was going to be the next call. But I felt like Tiger was somebody that I have relied on in the past for questions and answers, and how to deal with things. I felt like that would be the most comfortable call for me.”