Patrick Reed Chasing Second Green Jacket at 2026 Masters After LIV Golf Exit
Patrick Reed is back in the spotlight at Augusta National this weekend — and for once, all the conversation is purely about his golf. The 2018 Masters champion enters Saturday's Round 3 in a tie for second place at 6-under par, sitting six shots behind a historic Rory McIlroy as the 90th Masters Tournament reaches its defining stretch.
Patrick Reed Leaves LIV Golf, Eyes PGA Tour Return
Two months before the 2026 Masters, Reed left LIV Golf with a singular goal: return to the PGA Tour. He secured that path through a hot streak on the DP World Tour, earning one of the 10 cards the European league hands out to its top finishers in the Race to Dubai standings. Unlike fellow LIV defector Brooks Koepka, Reed's departure came without warning.
Reed confirmed that LIV had officially offered him a contract renewal, but after consulting with his family and team, he decided against returning for a fifth year. He said the LIV international schedule was keeping him away from home too much. "My daughter is now eleven; little man's eight. It seems like time has flown. I definitely want to watch them grow up and be home a little bit more," Reed said.
The PGA Tour announced in January that Reed, who did not re-sign with LIV Golf after four seasons, would be eligible to return to the Tour as a past champion in 2027 and eligible for events this fall. Because he is facing a year suspension from his last LIV appearance, he cannot return to full PGA Tour competition until then.
Patrick Reed Eagles Two Par 5s in Round 1 at the Masters
No one had a better Thursday morning at Augusta National than Patrick Reed. The 2018 Masters champion eagled not one but two of his first eight holes to record a scorching 5-under 31 on the front nine, temporarily seizing the lead. Reed was a popular pick heading into the week due to his strong form on the DP World Tour, where he had two wins and a runner-up finish before arriving at Augusta.
Reed turned one clear of the field after his front nine, but that was the end of his scoring on the day. He bogeyed the par-4 10th and the par-5 15th, the latter after hitting his second shot into the water. His 3-under 69 put him two off the first-round lead held by Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns.
Round 2: Reed Matches McIlroy Blow for Blow at Augusta
Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy went stride for stride during Friday's second round, briefly sharing the top of the Masters leaderboard. McIlroy ultimately pulled away with a historic back nine, shooting 65 on the day to reach 12-under par. Reed shot a second consecutive 69 and sits tied for second with Sam Burns at 6-under, six shots back heading into Saturday.
Reed birdie'd the 17th after rolling his approach past the cup to set up a 14-footer, which he walked in easily, before dropping a bogey at 18 to finish his round. The final leaderboard behind McIlroy shows Reed and Burns at 6-under, with Justin Rose, Shane Lowry, and Tommy Fleetwood at 5-under entering the weekend.
Can Patrick Reed Win a Second Masters Green Jacket?
Reed, 35, is now ranked 23rd in the world — a ranking that likely understates where he really stands in the game after his dominant DP World Tour run. Writers have noted that this 2026 Masters is functioning like the ultimate fresh-start moment for him, the first major of the rest of his career after four years on LIV Golf.
Reed has long thrived at Augusta National in a way that defies conventional explanation. Nobody would mistake him for the game's longest hitter or best ball-striker, yet his record at the course speaks for itself: a green jacket in 2018 followed by finishes of T-12, T-4, T-3, and now a share of second place with 36 holes to play at the 2026 Masters.
