Patrick Reed handed the DP World Tour a huge boost for the 2026 season with his decision to spend the year on the circuit ahead of his future return to the PGA Tour.
Reed sent shockwaves through the sport with his decision to leave LIV Golf before this season. The 35-year-old did not qualify for the Returning Member Program on the PGA Tour, but still opted to walk away from LIV.
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That has been beneficial to the DP World Tour, with the American signing up to spend most of the year playing in their events.
What DP World Tour players think of Patrick Reed
Reed has already won twice in 2026, including once after his decision to leave LIV was announced. But of course, he has been a controversial character for much of his career.
Reed is certainly a divisive figure in the game. So perhaps some may wonder whether there is any animosity towards him from those on the European circuit, particularly with Reed likely to move back to the PGA Tour when the opportunity arises. Admittedly, he has played in plenty of DP World Tour events in the past.
Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images
However, speaking on Live From The Masters, Paul McGinley insisted that the players have been very welcoming of Reed in recent months.
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“I know he’s been playing on the DP World Tour and I know that he has been popular, and guys love to get drawn with him on the DP World Tour. He’s been playing there quite a bit now. They like playing with him, he’s a major champion, he’s a big name. And they want to observe his game. He has embraced it. He likes travelling, he’s gone out to all of these places, and obviously played really well. Now he’s talking about trying to win the DP World Tour Order of Merit, which is great,” he said.
Why Brandel Chamblee could see Patrick Reed in contention at The Masters
Reed is surely a real contender to win this week. The 2018 champion seems to have rediscovered his best form over the last 12 months.
And of course, anyone who has won at Augusta National in the past can never be ruled out when the first major of the year arrives.
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Speaking on the same programme, Brandel Chamblee suggested that he would not be at all surprised to see Reed fare well over the coming days.
“He certainly came out here with a reputation for not being the best team member, but a great player. I’m not quite sure that he’s done anything to dispel that reputation when he came out here. He’s into himself, does his own thing. He’s had some questionable events on a golf course that led to some questionable rulings that led to a lot of controversy over how he handles himself on the golf course. But none of that overrides the fact that I think he’s a sublime golfer,” he said.
“He’s an amazing talent, demonstrated by his win here but other places. This place is absolutely tailor-made for him. You get plenty of room to hit some wild drives off the tee, which he’s prone to do. He reminds me a lot of Phil Mickelson; very good iron player and extraordinary around the greens and on the greens. One of the best pitching motions, chipping motions you’ll ever see, one of the best putting strokes you’ll ever see.”
Reed’s record at The Masters is a superb one. He has finished in the top 10 in four of the last six years, including last year when he finished third.
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His worst result in that run was tied for 35th. Meanwhile, his average finishing position over those last six starts is 12th.
So there is every chance that he could put himself in the mix once again on Sunday.
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