Patrick Reed kept everyone at bay and closed with an even-par 72 on Sunday for a four-shot victory in the Dubai Desert Classic, his first European Tour title that moves him back into the top 30 in the world for the first time since he joined LIV Golf.
Reed also made enough money from the Rolex Series event that it should cover his European Tour fines for playing in the Saudi-backed rival league, assuming he can sort out a new LIV contract.
“Win early and that will take care of it,” Reed jokingly said Saturday on the topic of European Tour fines that LIV Golf no longer pays on the players’ behalf.
Reed revealed he is still negotiating a new contract to play on LIV, which starts on February 4 in Saudi Arabia.
The 35-year-old American, who is playing the European Tour next week in Bahrain, said he fully expects to be with LIV and a contract may already have been sorted out. His focus was only on golf this week, and he took care of business.
Reed seized control with middle rounds of 66 and 67 to build a four-shot lead over David Puig of Spain going into the last day.
