Patrick Reed has always been known for his intense competitiveness, but during the DP World Tour’s Hero Dubai Desert Classic in January, he experienced a moment that reminded him of what it truly means to play golf at the highest level. Standing on the practice range on Saturday, he noticed something unusual—while the range was full, players began to disappear one by one, leaving him as the last person on the tee box. As he walked to the tee, he was the last name announced, and he had already lost the lead because another player was 5 under through eight holes.
This scenario sparked a flood of memories for Reed, who described the adrenaline rush and the mental battles that come with competing against the best players on the leaderboard. “For me, I wanted that back,” he said. “I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings.”
A day later, Reed won the tournament, which marked the beginning of a new chapter in his career. He decided to reject an offer to continue playing on LIV Golf and instead focused on the DP World Tour. His goal is to finish in the top 10 on the Order of Merit this season, which would allow him to return to the PGA Tour in 2027.
Reed’s schedule for the year has been anything but routine. He has already traveled to Dubai, Bahrain, Qatar, and played twice in South Africa. During a pre-tournament press conference ahead of the 2026 Masters Tournament, a media member informed him that he has competed in 22 different countries since 2022.
“You just made me feel really tired telling me how much I’ve traveled,” he joked. However, Reed seems well-rested. He hasn’t played since the Joburg Open, which ended a month ago, and he has been enjoying more time at home with his family.
“I have no idea when the last time was I took three or four weeks off before Augusta. It’s been an unbelievable break,” he said. “I’ve been out there obviously grinding, working on the game, but having the opportunity to take little man over to some golf lessons and then go to St. Louis with my daughter for volleyball tournaments.”
Reed emphasized the importance of being present for his children. “It’s awesome to just be a dad. Go out and do my work early in the morning and come back and pick my kids up from school and have a great time. That’s something that I definitely missed, I felt like, through not just last year, but also early in my career because I was always go, go, go, and focusing on golf 24/7.”
He added: “I definitely want to watch them grow up and be home a little bit more, yet still at the same time to play against the best guys.”
Reed is not only rested but also in good form. He opened the season with two wins and a T-2 in his first three starts. The 2018 Masters champion, who attended Augusta State University, is making his 13th appearance at Augusta National and is coming off a third-place finish last year. He could be a strong contender to add to his major title count this week.
“The one Jacket is getting a little lonely,” he said. “Might need one more.”
