Patrick Reed wins LIV duel with David Puig to secure Dubai Desert Classic title

One might wonder what the leadership of the PGA Tour thinks after waking up in Ponte Vedra Beach to the news of a LIV showdown in Dubai. Similarly, one could speculate on how LIV’s executives feel about private information being made public by the new Desert Classic champion.

 

Patrick Reed emerged victorious, reminding everyone that he is still one of the top golfers globally. Meanwhile, David Puig was pushed down to third place after a lackluster finish, with Andy Sullivan closing strong to take second.

 

Puig faced further embarrassment after the tournament ended, as he received a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in a bunker on the 18th hole, resulting in a tie for seventh.

 

The contest between Reed and Puig was intriguing because neither can participate in the PGA Tour due to their LIV affiliation. The PGA Tour has a substantial agreement to support prize funds on the DP World Tour until the end of next year, and the DP World Tour continues to welcome LIV players, creating situations like the one that occurred on the Majlis Course.

 

With the PGA Tour appearing determined to counter LIV and its funding from Saudi Arabia, especially after Brooks Koepka’s recent switch, it’s reasonable to think that officials in Florida might urge the DP World Tour to reconsider entry rules for tournaments, particularly if financial incentives continue to shift. The criteria that facilitated Koepka’s return were designed to exclude players like Reed, yet he left the Emirates Club with $1.5 million, partly sourced from the PGA Tour. Golf remains in a peculiar state. Reed announced in his press conference that his LIV contract has ended.

 

“We’re still finalizing the contract,” Reed explained. “I prefer not to discuss business while competing, so Monday through Wednesday is usually the time for that.”

 

Reed even mentioned his ambition to finish in the top 10 of Europe’s order of merit, which could open up a pathway back to the PGA Tour. “If I’m not playing LIV this year, I’ll be focused on playing more on this tour to secure a top 10 spot,” Reed noted. This places him in a strong negotiating position.

 

Earlier in the day, Reed, noted for his global performance, clinched victory by four shots, finishing at 14 under par with a final round of 72, which felt somewhat anticlimactic. With this win, he resolved the disappointment of narrowly missing out to Rory McIlroy in last year’s Desert Classic.

 

Reed began the day with a four-shot lead over Puig, who narrowed the gap with birdies on the 8th and 9th holes. However, Reed regained his composure, adding birdies at the 10th and 13th, while Puig struggled to keep pace, finishing the last eight holes in three over par, which turned to five due to his penalty and a seven on the final hole. Sullivan’s impressive inward half of 33 secured him second place, while Julien Guerrier finished third. Francesco Molinari, Nicolai Højgaard, and Jayden Schaper tied for fourth.

 

Rory McIlroy ended his tournament with a 73, marking an unusual finish outside the top 20 in Dubai. “I was stuck in neutral for most of the week,” the Masters champion remarked.