Patrick Reed Confirms LIV Golf Exit, Plans PGA Tour Return in 2027

YEREVAN (Azat TV) – Veteran golfer Patrick Reed announced Wednesday that he will not re-sign with LIV Golf after the 2025 season, confirming his intention to return to the PGA Tour as a past champion member for 2027. The move, which follows his recent victory at the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic, marks another significant shift in the landscape of professional golf as high-profile players reconsider their allegiance amidst ongoing negotiations between the rival tours.

Reed, a nine-time PGA Tour winner and 2018 Masters champion, stated his decision was made after ‘careful thought and consideration’ with his family, expressing his desire to return to the tour where his career began. While his full PGA Tour status is set for the 2027 season, he will be eligible to compete in certain PGA Tour events as a non-member starting August 25, 2026, and will continue his participation on the DP World Tour as an Honorary Lifetime Member.

Reed’s Path Back to the PGA Tour

Patrick Reed’s immediate focus for 2026 will be a robust schedule on the DP World Tour, where he aims to secure a top-10 finish in the Race to Dubai standings. Achieving this would grant him full PGA Tour playing privileges for the 2027 season, offering a more comprehensive return than simply rejoining as a past champion member. He can also enhance his status by winning a FedEx Cup Fall event later in 2026. Reed, who currently ranks second in the Race to Dubai after his Rolex Series win, last competed in an unauthorized event on August 24, 2025.

In an Instagram post detailing his decision, Reed expressed gratitude for his time with LIV Golf, specifically thanking Dustin Johnson and the 4Aces team, but reiterated his identity as a ‘traditionalist at heart.’ His last PGA Tour win came five years ago at the Farmers Insurance Open, while his most significant victory remains the 2018 Masters.

PGA Tour and LIV Golf Respond

The PGA Tour confirmed Reed’s desire to return, stating that as a result of resigning his membership in 2022 prior to violating any PGA Tour Regulations, he is eligible to compete as a non-member starting August 25, 2026. However, the Tour also made it clear that Reed, similar to other returning members, will be ineligible for participation in the Player Equity Program through 2030. This program, which could cost returning players tens of millions of dollars, underscores the financial consequences associated with leaving and rejoining the Tour.

LIV Golf issued a statement acknowledging Reed’s departure, noting that they ‘were not able to come to terms with Patrick on a potential contract extension.’ The league wished him well and reiterated its stance on player movement, stating that ‘players will not only have the right, but the opportunity to play golf when and where they want.’ LIV Golf now faces the challenge of finding a replacement for Reed on Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC ahead of their 2026 season opener in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, next Wednesday.

A Shifting Landscape in Professional Golf

Reed’s announcement follows similar moves by other players. Notably, Brooks Koepka is expected to be the only player to rejoin the PGA Tour via the expedited Returning Member Program, which expires on February 2, 2026, and was established for major or THE PLAYERS champions since 2022. Kevin Na and Hudson Swafford have also applied for reinstatement, with Pat Perez already reinstated and eligible to return on January 1, 2027. The terms for Na’s return are still being determined.

The increasing trend of players seeking a return to the PGA Tour has drawn comments from figures like Rory McIlroy, who suggested that players are ‘starting to realize’ the value of competing at the highest level offered by the established circuits. The PGA Tour’s Chief Competitions Officer Tyler Dennis and Chief Player Officer Jason Gore emphasized in a memo to members that reinstatement terms are not negotiated on a player-by-player basis, ensuring fairness and competitive integrity.

Reed’s decision, coupled with the reinstatement requests from other former LIV Golf players, signals a significant recalibration within professional golf, suggesting that the initial allure of LIV Golf’s structure and financial incentives may be giving way to a desire for the traditional competitive pathways and legacy opportunities offered by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour.