Why is Patrick Reed golf's ultimate pantomime villain?

When new PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp announced a Returning Member Program it was clearly done to open the door for the return of five-time major champion Brooks Koepka. 

It allowed any player who had won a major or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025 to return with a financial penalty. It meant that Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith were also free to make their return, although all three have announced they are staying with LIV Golf. They still have until February 2 to change their minds but that is not going to happen.

However, Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion and a man who was one of the first to take the Saudi dollar, has surprised many by describing the PGA Tour as the best in the world. He is a golfer who divides opinion like few others. Golf fans either love him or loathe him.

In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Reed said: "It’s not really a decision for me at the moment. I mean, that was for players [who won majors from] 2022 and on. [But] I definitely would have to think about it, if that number was [taken] down to 2018.

"If it’s up to me, I’d play everywhere. I’m already playing on three tours [LIV, the DP World Tour and the Asian Tour], so why not add one more?"

Reed then praised the PGA Tour, where he won nine times, and confirmed he could see a time when he would return. 

It would be interesting to know what his LIV paymasters thought when he added: "I always enjoyed my time out there on the PGA Tour. I mean, let’s be honest, it’s the best tour in the world. Look at what they’ve done in golf. You know, I could see myself playing there at some point again.

"You just never know. Everything’s so fluid, everything’s discombobulated in golf. But at the end of the day, whatever my name’s called, I’m going to show up and play and, you know, try to play the best and not only represent myself, but my family, and also whatever my team [is]."

And with a magnificent sense of theatre, just days after this Reed only went and won the Dubai Desert Classic, one of the most prestigious tournaments on the DP World Tour schedule.

While most of Reed’s fellow LIV golfers have seen their world rankings plummet, he is now 29th in the world. 

Of course, as a former champion he is guaranteed a place in the field at Augusta in April but he is also eligible to compete in the sport’s other three majors. As he said, he is active on three tours - he finished third at The Masters in 2025, was tied third at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, tied 16th at the Open de Espana, 26th at the Dubai Invitational, won the Dubai Desert Classic and is playing in the Bahrain Championship. He has also played in Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, South Africa and the Philippines.

So should he be welcomed back by the PGA Tour? It is fair to say that controversy seems to follow Reed and has done throughout his career. 

You will recall that Rory McIlroy memorably snubbed him at the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic. Sod’s Law being what it is, the two men ended up going head to head for the title, with McIlroy prevailing.

You may also remember his memorable singles victory against McIlroy at Hazeltine in 2016. It was one of the best matchplay encounters I have ever witnessed with both men trading birdies before Reed eventually prevailed on the final green, cementing his status as Captain America as the USA strolled to victory. 

That was the best of Reed. But then there is this:

Without going into detail, let’s just say that during his college days he was not especially popular with his teammates.

After the 2018 Ryder Cup, he criticised what he described as the "buddy system" of pairings after Europe thrashed America in Paris. There were suggestions that players, Jordan Spieth among them, had said they did not want to be paired with Reed.

At the 2019 Hero World Challenge he was penalised two strokes for brushing sand away with practice swings thus improving his lie.

At the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic he was accused of dropping a ball in the wrong place after his original ball became lodged in a tree, leading to further accusations of cheating.

At the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open he was involved a furious row after picking up his ball from a plugged lie before receiving a ruling as to whether he was entitled to do so.

After joining LIV, Reed filed a $750m defamation suit against the Golf Channel and Brandel Chamblee - unsurprisingly, it was later dismissed.

So make up your own mind. World-class golfer? Pantomime villain? Cheat? There is no doubt in my mind that should he ever decide that he wants to return to the PGA Tour it would stir plenty of interest.