LIV star Patrick Reed faces ultimate pressure at Masters ahead of major snub
Patrick Reed will be hoping LIV Golf' s hunt for world ranking points is right around the corner, with the American eligible to compete in just one major championship this year.
Reed had been able to compete in all four of golf's major championships over the past five years following his maiden flagship win at the 2018 Masters. His green jacket victory six years ago ensures he will be welcome to compete in the iconic event for the rest of his career, having earned a lifetime exemption.
And elsewhere he has been able to compete freely at the Open Championship, U.S. Open and PGA Championship too, all thanks to his breakthrough victory at Augusta in 2018.
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This major champion invite, however, has since run out at the three other flagship events, meaning Augusta will be his only major outing this campaign. Previously this would not have been an issue for Reed, who had been a mainstay in the world's top-50 during his time on the PGA Tour.
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But his decision to join LIV Golf has seen him tumble down the rankings in recent years, as he currently sits 99th in the world list. This now means Reed will have to more than likely need to repeat his 2018 heroics and win the Masters for a second time this year, or perform well enough to break into the top-50, to qualify for any of the other majors.
Reed is not alone in his fall, with the majority of members on the breakaway circuit suffering a similar fate, as LIV's wait for Official World Golf Ranking goes on. Their latest bid to secure OWGR points was rejected last October, with the ranking system highlighting the league's 54-hole, no-cut format and closed-shop promotion and relegation system as the key reasons behind the decision. Unsurprisingly, LIV bosses were unimpressed with the decision, and went on the slam the legitimacy of the current rankings.
Patrick Reed won the Masters back in 2018 (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)"OWGR's sole objective is to rank the best players across the globe. Today's communication makes clear that it can no longer deliver on that objective," a LIV statement read at the time." Professional golf is now without a true or global scoring and ranking system.
"There is no benefit for fans or players from the lack of trust or clarity as long as the best player performances are not recognised. LIV will continue to strive to level set the market so fans, broadcasters, and sponsors have the assurance of an independent and objective ranking system and the pure enjoyment of watching the best golf in the world."
The key issue surrounding the ranking debate is the effects it will have on LIV players making golf's four majors, with a place in the top-50 usually enough to earn a flagship invite. One member of the Saudi-backed league who does not need to worry about his major status is Bryson DeChambeau on the back of his 2020 U.S. Open victory.
He does however believe the major events need to implement some sort of exemption category to allow more LIV members to compete. "I think at this point in time now that they’re not allowing it," he said late last year. "We would love to find another way to be integrated into the major championship system since I think we have some of the best players in the world.
“Top 12 on the list, the money list, at the end of the year or the points list at the end of the year, would be I think obvious for the major championships to host the best players in the world at those four events each year.”
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