Reed Fires Back at Rahm: "I’ll Still Be Back" to DP World Tour

Patrick Reed has made his position clear on the potential return of Jon Rahm to the PGA Tour.

The 2018 Masters champion believes that players should earn their way back through competition rather than receiving special deals.

Reed spoke at a press conference on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, ahead of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

He stated that the PGA Tour officials will look into the situation, but he firmly believes that qualification is the only fair path for any golfer.

This stance comes as Rahm considers his options after leaving LIV Golf and facing a one-year suspension from regular PGA Tour events.

The conversation about Rahm's future has gained urgency because the Spanish star has not yet secured a spot for the 2027 season.

Rahm has indicated that he would prefer to play on the PGA Tour, but he admits that no official discussions have taken place yet.

Reed, who successfully navigated his own return to the American tour, sees the merit in Rahm's resume but insists on the same rules for everyone.

The dynamic between these two major champions highlights the ongoing tension between the PGA Tour and the players who previously joined the Saudi-backed league.

REED STANDS FIRM ON QUALIFICATION RULES

Patrick Reed did not shy away from the difficult question about whether Rahm should be allowed back on the tour under special circumstances.

He acknowledged that the decision is complex but reiterated his long-held belief that merit should determine eligibility.

Reed stated that if a player has earned the right to compete and meets the qualifying standards, they should be allowed to play anywhere.

This view contrasts with the idea of granting exceptions based on a player's past achievements or financial status.

Reed's comments carry significant weight because he recently completed his own journey back to the PGA Tour.

Following his departure from LIV Golf in August 2025, he completed a suspension before returning to competition on the DP World Tour.

He climbed to number two in the standings and earned his PGA Tour card for the upcoming season without a special exemption.

His experience proves that it is possible to return through standard competitive pathways, which supports his argument that Rahm should do the same.

According to reports from Yahoo Sports, Reed emphasized that the PGA Tour leadership has the final say on how to handle Rahm's situation.

However, he made it clear that he does not support bypassing the rules that apply to other players.

Reed noted that the tour's officials will have to weigh multiple factors, but he hopes they will prioritize competitive integrity.

THE BACKGROUND ON RAHM'S SITUATION

Jon Rahm left LIV Golf earlier this year after the Saudi-backed circuit underwent restructuring.

His departure triggered a one-year suspension from regular PGA Tour events, a standard penalty for players who had previously joined LIV without a release.

Rahm has since hinted that he would accept a deal similar to the one Brooks Koepka received — a return path that did not require going through qualifying school or earning points on the DP World Tour.

Koepka was granted a special exemption to return to the PGA Tour after his LIV stint, a move that sparked debate among players and fans.

Rahm, along with Bryson DeChambeau and Cameron Smith, reportedly turned down that same deal earlier this year.

Now that Rahm has left LIV, he is exploring his options for the 2027 season.

He has said he will have a discussion with the PGA Tour about his possible return, raising the question of when that should happen.

Reed believes that Rahm, like any other player, should have to play his way back through the DP World Tour or another qualifying pathway.

"I definitely feel like it's something that they are going to be looking into," Reed said, according to Golf Monthly.

"How they do it is the question."

REED'S OWN PATH BACK

Patrick Reed left LIV Golf in August 2025, before the end of the 2025 season.

He served a suspension imposed by the PGA Tour for having joined LIV without a release.

After the suspension ended, Reed committed to a full season on the DP World Tour, the European-based circuit formerly known as the European Tour.

He won two events on that tour during the 2026 season, securing enough Race to Dubai points to finish in the top 10 of the DP World Tour Rankings.

That top-10 finish earned him one of the 10 PGA Tour cards available to DP World Tour players for the 2027 season.

Reed did not receive a special exemption or a backroom deal.

He played his way back, tournament by tournament, on a continent far from his home in the United States.

Now he is challenging to become just the second American to win the Race to Dubai title, the season-long points race on the DP World Tour.

He is currently second in the standings, trailing Rory McIlroy but ahead of Eugenio Chacarra.

REED'S COMMITMENT TO THE DP WORLD TOUR

In the same press conference, Reed made a separate announcement that caught attention.

He confirmed that even after he returns to the PGA Tour in 2027, he plans to keep his membership on the DP World Tour.

"I'll definitely still be out here playing this tour," Reed said in Abu Dhabi, as reported by Golf Monthly.

"It's always been a dream of mine, as well as I've always made it a priority to be the American that comes over and keeps my card and comes over and plays worldwide golf."

Reed has a history of supporting the European circuit.

He has played multiple events on the DP World Tour each season for several years, even when he was a full-time PGA Tour member.

He is known among European fans for his willingness to travel and compete in events that many American players skip.

"I've really enjoyed my time not only on the DP World Tour but with the guys out here and everything," Reed said.

"I'm definitely going to continue supporting this tour even playing the PGA Tour."

Then he added a direct message to the DP World Tour leadership and fans: "Don't worry, I'll still be back."

That statement signals that Reed intends to be a regular presence on the European circuit for the foreseeable future.

It also positions him as a rare American player who values the DP World Tour as more than just a stepping stone back to the PGA Tour.

THE RACE TO DUBAI DYNAMIC

Reed is currently second in the Race to Dubai standings behind Rory McIlroy.

McIlroy, the world number two, is chasing a record-equalling eighth Race to Dubai title.

Eugenio Chacarra, another former LIV Golf player, is third in the standings.

All three players are competing in the DP World Tour playoffs, which began this week in Abu Dhabi.

McIlroy, Reed, and Chacarra were drawn in the same group for the opening rounds of the Abu Dhabi Championship.

McIlroy spoke about both Reed and Chacarra ahead of the tournament.

He said he has respect for the way both players have worked their way back to the PGA Tour through the DP World Tour.

"I think you look at Eugenio and Patrick as former LIV players but coming back and going through the process of trying to build their way back through the game and through this tour," McIlroy said, according to AOL.com.

"Ultimately both of them are going to get a PGA Tour card again next year."

McIlroy added: "I have a lot of respect for them with the way that they have done."

Chacarra, a former Oklahoma State standout, left LIV Golf after the 2024 season when his contract was not renewed.

He earned over $16 million in 34 starts on LIV but decided he wanted to pursue majors and Ryder Cup eligibility.

"On LIV, nothing changes; there is only money," Chacarra told Flushing It after he left.

"It doesn't matter if you finish 30th or first, only money."

"I'm not a guy who wants more money."

"What will change my life is playing in Hawaii and qualifying for the majors, qualifying for the Masters, the Ryder Cup."

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