AUGUSTA, GEORGIA | It had been 2,554 days since Patrick Reed last walked into the stately interview room in the palatial press building at Augusta National Golf Club. It was April 9, 2019, when he was last invited for a formal sit-down interview with the Masters press corps as the reigning champion. Pre-COVID, pre-LIV but post-pariah after falling out of favor as Captain America in the wake of the 2018 Ryder Cup in France.
Based on merit, it should not have taken so long, until Monday, to bring Reed back into the spotlight at the Masters. He’s not missed a cut in his seven starts since winning the green jacket by outplaying Rory McIlroy in the final pairing in 2018. Four of those finishes were top 10 and he’s been the most consistent performer from the LIV set since 2023, going T4, T12 and solo third last year when he eagled the 17th hole Sunday to finish within two shots of the playoff between McIlroy and Justin Rose.
Did he ever feel a little overlooked among the roster of past Masters champions?
“I never feel overlooked when I come back to being a past champion at Augusta,” Reed said. “Obviously, love being in this room. It means you’re doing something well. … Hopefully we’ll be in here Thursday through Sunday.”
Other than at Augusta National, however, Reed went a little quiet after joining the first wave that went to LIV Golf in 2022. From his last PGA Tour victory at Torrey Pines in 2021, his star steadily fell through his first two seasons on the rival circuit as his world ranking plummeted to as low as 164th in November 2024.
Then came a 59 in the third round of the 2024 Hong Kong Open, and Reed’s bounce back was officially on as he claimed his first victory in more than 3½ years. After finishing third in the 2025 Masters, he won the LIV Golf event last summer near his adopted hometown of Dallas – his only victory in four seasons on LIV.
Reed started 2026 on fire, winning DP World Tour events in Dubai and Qatar and losing a playoff in Bahrain. As a result of that torrid stretch in the Middle East, his current No. 23 Official World Golf Ranking is more reflective of his talent.
More importantly, Reed realized something else about himself when he won the Dubai Desert Classic.
He missed playing on the PGA Tour.
Reed started 2026 on fire, winning DP World Tour events in Dubai and Qatar and losing a playoff in Bahrain. As a result of that torrid stretch in the Middle East, his current No. 23 Official World Golf Ranking is more reflective of his talent.
So instead of accepting his new contract offer to continue with LIV, Reed opted to ride out the rest of the season on the DP World Tour until he’s eligible to pick up his PGA Tour card again in 2027.
“When you look at it, the best players in the world and the deepest fields from top to bottom are on the PGA Tour,” Reed said Monday. “I’ve played now every tour. I’ve played on every single one of them. It’s one of those that from top to bottom that’s the place that I feel like is best for us to go and compete against the top guys year in and year out, week in and week out.”
That decision to leave LIV and eventually rejoin the U.S. circuit came about as he was beating a stellar field at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai. This was no limited-field event with a shotgun start, and he felt the difference and the accompanying adrenaline rush.
“I really just kind of was sitting back and realizing that I wanted to get back and not only have an opportunity back on the PGA Tour, but get back to the traditional way of golf and playing,” he said.
“When I stood there in Dubai, that Saturday the entire range is full, and then guys just start disappearing. And you’re the last man on that tee box. Then you’re walking to the [first] tee, you’re the last name announced, and you’ve lost the lead because someone is 5-under through 8. All those rushes and those scenarios – kind of going back into playing golf that way, where you’re going out there and you’re having the battles between not just yourself, but the other guys on the leaderboard – for me, I wanted that back. I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings. Especially with the way I played those last three weeks, but really there in Dubai.
“When I got done, I knew this would be a perfect time for me since I didn’t have a contract signed with LIV at the time, so I knew it would be kind of an easier transition. To be honest with you, it was one of those decisions that I felt like was the best, not just for the golf game, but also for my family to spend more time with them.”
“I feel like anytime I get here, I get out of being that robot and just kind of be creative, hit golf shots, and play golf. Because of that, it’s one of those places that I love to come every year.” – Patrick Reed
Reed hasn’t played a tournament in a month since the DP World Tour’s Joburg Open in South Africa, spending the time at home in Texas working on his game and enjoying his family. He’s never taken such a long break during the middle of a golf season, but it’s easy to appreciate the luxury after teeing it up in 27 different countries since joining LIV in 2022.
“You just made me feel really tired telling me how much I’ve traveled,” he said.
But having a game that travels is something Reed relishes. “With having the opportunity to be able to play worldwide and be a worldwide player – to really dive in and experience the cultures, experience the different cuisines, different areas, different places – it’s something that’s true to me, and it’s a reason I love traveling and playing worldwide.”
While Reed never intends to give up playing overseas, there will be comfort in coming home and playing the bulk of his golf on the PGA Tour.
But perhaps nowhere in the world is he more comfortable than Augusta National. Reed won two national championships across town at what’s now called Augusta University, and his love affair with the Masters course shows every time he plays in his consistently strong scores.
“I feel like anytime I get here, I get out of being that robot and just kind of be creative, hit golf shots, and play golf,” he said. “Because of that, it’s one of those places that I love to come every year.
“I feel like it’s the best test of golf we play all year round. For a guy that’s played just about everywhere in the world, just about, it’s one of those places that I say, hands down, it’s the best test of golf and best golf course I’ve ever played.”
Now Reed’s form is as good as it’s been since he climbed as high as No. 6 in the world. While Reed’s former LIV mates Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm are in excellent form and world Nos. 1 and 2 Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy are always a threat, it’s the 2018 champion who is playing as well as anyone else in the 91-player field.
It might take only six days for Reed to make his way back to the main interview room this time.
“I feel like every tool in my golf bag right now is sharp and ready to go,” Reed said.
“The one jacket is getting a little lonely. Might need one more.”