Published 03/21/2023, 11:54 AM EDT
Golf – The 150th Open Championship – Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland, Britain – July 13, 2022 Patrick Reed of the U.S. wearing a hat with “LIV Golf” branding on it during a practice round REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
The PGA Tour resumes this week with WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play in Austin. The event holds significance as the final edition of a World Golf Championship event in the foreseeable future. Once witnessing the strongest fields on the tour due to its distinct format, the competition has lost its charm. But that didn’t bother eligible LIV defectors to register for the event, which was eventually rejected, and caught the eyes of the golf community.
Patrick Reed and others refused entry to WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play
In a report that has come to light, 2018 Masters winner Patrick Reed and other unnamed LIV players were disallowed to play at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play. The tournament is held by the International Federation of PGA Tours, with rules stating that the defectors’ application was “subject to acceptance by the Host Tour,” which was expectedly denied.
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The event provided an opportunity for LIV golfers to gain some much-needed ranking points while competing for a lucrative purse of $20 million. Some even have a history with the WGC events, including 32-year-old Patrick Reed.
The Texas-born secured his first key victory on the PGA Tour after winning the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship. He followed that up with another WGC title, at the 2020 WGC-Mexico Championship. He switched sides to the LIV Golf Series the following year.
USA Today via Reuters Oct 30, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Dustin Johnson and Patrick Reed celebrate with team 4Aces GC after winning the season finale of the LIV Golf series at Trump National Doral. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Reed’s and others’ dismission from the tournament made news on social media, with several fans pitching their opinions. Here’s a selection of those tweets.
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Reed won’t be allowed to add to his tally after the recent ruling, which is a shame considering the spirited atmosphere during his last visit to a mainstream event.
What happened between Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy when the duo last met each other?
January’s Dubai Desert Classic, the season-opening event on the DP Tour, proved to be an absolute entertainer for golf fans. It started out with an alleged beef between Reed and then-World No.1 Rory McIlroy, with the former accused of tossing a tee in the Brit’s direction.
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The story continued to grow despite the reluctance of both golfers. It eventually added spice to the tournament, which was hotly contested. In the final round, the duo kept bettering each other, before McIlroy scripted victory over Reed by a single stroke.
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