Patrick Reed triumphed at the Dubai Desert Classic, defeating David Puig in a duel that highlighted the ongoing tension between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour. Reed, whose LIV contract has expired, used his victory to cast doubt over his future with the Saudi-backed circuit.
Reed finished at 14 under par, four strokes ahead of Andy Sullivan, with Puig slipping to third after a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the 18th. Puig’s slow finish saw him tie for seventh. The Spaniard had started the final round two shots behind Reed but lost ground with a bogey-laden closing stretch.
The matchup between Reed and Puig, both LIV members ineligible for the PGA Tour, underscored the complex relationship between the tours. The DP World Tour continues to allow LIV players, a policy that may come under scrutiny as the PGA Tour finalises a significant investment in the European circuit. Reed’s win earned him $1.5m, money that effectively originates from the PGA Tour’s partnership with the DP World Tour.
In his post-round press conference, Reed revealed his LIV contract had expired. “We’re still finalising the contract,” he said, adding that he preferred not to discuss business during tournaments. He even floated the possibility of finishing inside the top 10 on the DP World Tour's order of merit to earn a pathway back to the PGA Tour. “If I ended up not playing on LIV this year, obviously I would be out here playing more on this tour and trying to secure one of those spots in the top 10,” Reed stated.
Rory McIlroy, the defending champion, finished outside the top 20 after a closing 73, describing his week as “stuck in neutral.” Francesco Molinari, Nicolai Højgaard and Jayden Schaper shared fourth place. Meanwhile, the PGA Tour is reportedly considering asking the DP World Tour to restrict entry for LIV players, as per the criteria used for Brooks Koepka’s return, which excluded figures like Reed.
