Patrick Reed's PGA Championship Prep: What's Really Going On Behind the Scenes?
Patrick Reed. The guy. You know him. Always something going on with that dude. This year, heading into the PGA Championship, it’s been a little… different. He’s been away from the big tournaments. Been quiet. Almost too quiet. And you gotta ask yourself, what’s the deal? Is he getting ready? Is he just chilling? Or is something else cooking under the surface?
Reed himself says he’s been getting “antsy.” He’s a tournament junkie, man. Loves to play. Plays everywhere, anytime. That’s his thing. But this time around? He shows up at this PGA Championship having not swung a club in anger since… well, since the Masters. Tied for 12th. That’s a decent finish, sure. But it’s a whole month of radio silence before a major. That’s not exactly Reed’s usual MO, is it?
The "Weird" Situation and Reed's Take
He called it “weird.” And yeah, you can see why. He’s used to being in the thick of it. Constant competition. Now, he’s had this… break. A grinding, preparing kind of break, he says. He felt like he could finally get some real prep in. Not just hitting balls, but really digging deep into his game. Studying it. Like a damn scientist.
This wasn’t just a few days off. This was a serious stretch. He wasn’t out there playing tour events, but he was doing stuff. Lots of stuff. Working on his game. And not just his game, but… other things too. Whatever that means. He’s not exactly spilling all the beans, is he?
He even went and hit a bunch of lob wedges. Like, a whole bunch. And he took a three-day trip to Aronimink Golf Club. Why? To get a feel for the wind. The kind of gnarly, howling wind you expect around Philly. He said he lost a ton of balls in the rough. Thick stuff. But he felt it sharpened him up. Like a knife. Got rid of any rust. You know, the kind that builds up when you’re not playing for a month. The last time he did this, skipped a bunch of weeks before a major? That was during the Covid season. Long gap between the Zozo and the Masters. Not exactly ideal prep, but he made it work.
The DP World Tour Grind and a Calculated Break
So, the itch to play? He got it bad. But he scratched it by grinding early. Then, he spent time with his kids. Once they were done with school. Smart move. Family time is important. Especially when you’re out there chasing the dream.
He left LIV Golf back in January. Since then? It’s been all DP World Tour. He’s trying to get his PGA Tour card back for 2027. And he’s doing a damn good job of it. Won in Dubai. Won in Qatar. He’s basically a lock for one of those 10 cards they give out to non-exempt DP World Tour guys.
His team looked at the DP World Tour schedule. They figured it was best for him to sit out between the Masters and this PGA Championship. And guess what? He’s gonna do it again. Sit out between the PGA and the U.S. Open. Then, he’ll ramp it back up for the DP World Tour’s home stretch. It’s a different strategy. A calculated break. Not the usual Reed blitz.
On the Course: Sharp Despite the Break
And you know what? It seemed to be working. On Thursday, at Aronimink, Reed was sharp. Really sharp. He led the field in greens in regulation. 88.9 percent. That’s insane. And he birdied two holes. No bogeys. Zero. He was right there. One shot off the lead. Held by a bunch of guys, including Scottie Scheffler.
He’s saying this year is “a little different.” He actually enjoyed his time at home. Getting to grind. Prepare. Work on stuff. Get ready for this week. He’s hoping to keep it going. Get himself in contention. Have a shot on Sunday. Maybe this is the new thing? A new way to prep for majors? Who knows.
The Shifting Sands of Professional Golf
But Reed’s prep isn’t the only thing that’s different. The whole damn landscape of professional golf is changing. Fast. This golf civil war? It looks like it’s winding down.
Since Reed left Augusta National, his old stomping ground, LIV Golf has been hit with some major news. The Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) is pulling its funding after this season. Yeah, you heard that right. Pulling out. That leaves LIV in a seriously uncertain spot. CEO Scott O’Neil is scrambling to find funding for 2027. It’s a mess. A total mess.
Reed's Surprise at LIV's Future
And Reed? He says he had no idea this was coming. None. He’s just hoping the guys still playing LIV keep swinging well. Keep getting their chances. Whatever their future holds. DP World Tour. Trying to get back to the PGA Tour. Wherever they end up. He just hopes they keep playing solid golf.
Here’s the kicker. Before he won in Dubai, Reed and his team were talking about a new contract with LIV. Then, four days later, he wins the tournament. And decides his time on the Saudi-backed league is over. He wanted back. Back to the PGA Tour. Get that competitive fire going again. Be in the old arena.
And the thought of the PIF pulling out? That didn’t factor into his decision at all. Not one bit. It wasn’t what his gut was telling him anymore.
The Real Reason Reed Left LIV
“None whatsoever,” Reed told the golf media when asked if the fear of the PIF pulling funding made him want to leave. “No. That was strictly just how I felt on the golf course when I was in Dubai. Want to get that feeling back, going out there and playing, having those ups and downs and that traditional type of golf where you’re the last man standing on the range. It had nothing to do with that. I was utterly surprised.”
He’s saying it was all about the feeling. The raw, unadulterated golf feeling. The grind. The pressure. The ups and downs of traditional tour golf. He missed that. He wanted that back. Not some fear of what might happen with LIV’s funding. He was genuinely shocked by the news.
He hopes it all works out for the guys still there. But for Reed, that chapter is closed. He’s moving on. Navigating his new reality. And he’s thriving in it. He’s playing good golf. Getting ready for majors. And who knows? Maybe this unconventional prep is the secret sauce. Maybe we’ll see him in contention this weekend.
It’s a crazy time in golf, man. Absolutely crazy. And Patrick Reed is right in the middle of it, doing his own thing. As usual. You can’t always predict what he’ll do, but you know he’ll always be competing. And that’s what makes him… him.
If you’re interested in the current state of professional golf and how players are adapting to the changing landscape, checking out resources like the official PGA Tour website can offer further insights into tournament schedules and player news.