The 2025 golf season has been a testing time for many players on the lush greens of the PGA Tour. High-profile golfers such as Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Dustin Johnson, and Anthony Kim have not held back their frustrations about their game. However, one name that has been added to this growing list is that of Patrick Reed.
Reed, a golfer associated with LIV, is no stranger to the ups and downs of the sport. His career has seen many twists and turns, reflecting the unpredictable nature of the game. “I’m getting hammered,” Reed admitted in 2022 when he dropped out of the top-50 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Fast-forward to 2025, and his ranking has slipped further to 129.
Despite participating in seven tournaments this year, including the recent LIV event in Singapore, Reed’s performance has been inconsistent. He managed a 25th place finish in Singapore, one of his four top-30 performances of the season. His best showing was at the DP World Tour at the Ras al Khaimah Championship, where he secured an eighth place finish. However, the 2024 season mirrored his current struggles, with his best result being a third-place finish at LIV Golf Houston. The fallout from these performances? Difficulty in making the cut for the majors.
Currently participating in the International Series in Macau, Reed shared his thoughts on his game. When asked why he wasn’t satisfied with his performance despite scoring 7-under and 6-under, Reed replied, “Well, yeah, I didn’t hit my wedge shots very close today.”
But it hasn’t been all gloomy for Reed. He started strong in the second round in Macau, shooting seven birdies, one bogey, and ten even pars, finishing 6-under 64 to take the lead at 13 under. If things go as planned, Reed might just clinch the win. However, his presence in Macau has raised eyebrows given the impending Masters Tournament.
This is because Reed is yet to qualify for the Open Championship. As part of the R&A’s Open Qualifying Series, the Macau event could offer Reed an exemption into the Open Championship if he secures a top 3 finish. When asked about his thoughts on this, Reed replied, “Honestly? I am not really thinking about it. The biggest day is to go out there and take each day shot by shot. Hopefully, go out and post a good round tomorrow.”
Despite his struggles, Reed has had his moments of glory. He won the 2018 Masters, securing a lifetime exemption at the Augusta National. Since joining LIV, Reed has had 15 top-10 finishes, including a T4 finish at the 2023 Masters.
However, Reed isn’t the only golfer striving to get into the Open Championship. Sergio Garcia, the recent LIV Golf Hong Kong winner, is also fighting for a spot. Having missed the prestigious event in 2023 and 2024, Garcia is eager to return. He has had a good run with seven top-10 finishes last year and a strong performance this year.
Yet, like Reed, Garcia is yet to secure his place in the Open Championship. With a lifetime exemption for the Masters and a spot in this year’s PGA Championship, Garcia is hopeful. However, he acknowledges the challenge, given the lack of world-ranking LIV golfers receive. In a recent statement, he said, “We have the strongest league in the world, you see the quality of players we have in LIV and in our team.”
As the Macau event unfolds, both Reed and Garcia are in a strong position. Whether this will translate into a ticket to the Open Championship remains to be seen. With just a few more days to go, golf fans worldwide will be watching eagerly.