Patrick Reed eyes Dubai downpayment on potential $1m fines from DP World Tour
LIV Golf player insists nothing will stop him trying to be ‘thorn in side for Europeans’
Patrick Reed is aiming to make a downpayment towards the $1 million he could be facing in fines this season from the DP World Tour by staying out in front in the final two rounds of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic this weekend.
After following an opening 69 on the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club with a bogey-free 66 in the second circuit, the American leads by a shot on nine-under-par at the halfway stage in the $9 million Rolex Series event.
It’s been an impressive effort so far from 2018 Masters champion Reed, who finished second behind Rory McIlroy here three years ago after the pair were involved in a ‘Tee-Gate’ incident on the practice area.
“It was hilarious,” he recalled of flicking a tee in McIlroy’s direction at a time when tensions were high in the game following the launch of LIV Golf. “I guess I need to grab a handful (of tees) and break the ice. Go up to him like that and maybe he needs to throw one at me.”
That was part of a lengthy chat with a group of reporters in the UAE, with Reed also addressing the fact that LIV Golf players like himself will be paying their own DP World Tour fines this season after the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit had previously footed the bill.
The likes of Reed, Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton will face their first fines when they tee up in the LIV Golf season-opener in Riyadh in a fortnight’s time without receiving an official release from the DP World Tour.
‘I’m not going to let fines deter me’
“Let's see,” said Reed, who received tens of millions of dollars to sign for LIV Golf, in reply to being asked if, based on him being prepared to cough up, then the likes of Rahm and Hatton should do likewise. “We haven't played an event yet that we would be fined, so we don't know really what it entails for this year.
“If it happens that I'm having to pay fines to play out here, so be it. I'm not going to allow that to deter me from showing support and playing on this tour.”
On the back of landing his major breakthrough at Augusta National the previous year, Reed was made an Honorary Life Member of the DP World Tour in 2019, becoming just the fourth American to receive the accolade after Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
On the strength of being a major winner in 2018, the 35-year-old holds a Category 1 exemption for the DP World Tour and, having been a big supporter of events on the circuit over the years, he is determined that won’t change going forward.
“I've always loved being on this tour and supporting this tour,” he added. “I've done it since I got the opportunity back when I won the WGC (in 2014) and I don't plan on stopping.”
Is there a chance that the fine situation might go away? “I have no idea,” he admitted. “I mean, at one point, I felt like the fines were going to go away, and then at one point, I felt like they weren't and then at one point they were, and then not. It's like every day is a little different. The only thing I can control is go out and play golf and have a chance to win Sunday and allow the golf to do all the talking.”
He laughed when it was suggested that winning here - the top prize is $1.53m - could offset fines that might be coming his way. “Exactly,” he admitted. “Go ahead and win early and that will take care of it.
“The biggest thing for me is I love playing. I've always wanted to be a worldwide player and the way you're going to do that is by playing on this tour. I've always enjoyed coming over here. I always felt like the fans have really shown some great support with me over here, and I felt like the tour has, as well. Because of that, I've always come back.
‘Play well and it offsets any fines’
“I love being that one American that comes over and tries to be a thorn in everyone's side when all the Europeans are out playing. It's fun coming over and playing, and, hey, if I play like I'm supposed to, that will take care of the fines.”
It was suggested that he probably has to earn $1m to break even. “Oh, yeah,” he said. “But that's a really fluid one depending on how much it is because it also depends on the event. There's so many different factors that go into it. Trying to wrap your head around all of it, it's confusing. I'd rather just tee it up and play, and, if it costs me this, whatever, I'll go play. Play well and it offsets any fines.”
After two testing days on the Majlis Course, Reed holds a slender lead over Andy Sullivan after the Englishman closed with an eagle after carding eight birdies in a second-round 65. “The back nine was a bit of a roller-coaster, but obviously happy with the response at the end,” said Sullivan.
Francesco Molinari, the overnight leader, sits two shots back along with fellow Italian Andrea Pavan, with Nicolai Hojaard a further stroke behind while Tyrrell Hatton, the defending champion, sits in a group on five under.
Record four-time winner McIlroy trails Reed by seven shots after picking up two shots in his last five holes. “I think I came from ten behind a couple years ago to win,” recalled the world No 2 and Masters champion. “Yeah, if I go out there tomorrow, maybe in slightly better conditions in the morning, and post a low one, then I'll be right in the mix come Sunday.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.