Race to Dubai leader Patrick Reed has insisted he has “no excuses” as he prepares to return from a shoulder injury at the Open de Espana, admitting that becoming only the second American to be crowned the European number one would mean “a lot” to his career.
Reed will tee it up in Madrid starting Thursday for his first competitive appearance since he was forced to withdraw during the second round of the prestigious BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last month. The 36-year-old Texan is currently aiming to follow in the footsteps of his compatriot Collin Morikawa, who famously captured the Race to Dubai title in 2021. With just five events remaining in the season, Reed holds an advantage of roughly 300 points over his nearest challenger, Rory McIlroy.
While McIlroy will skip the action in Spain this week, the Northern Irishman is scheduled to return to the fairways at the DP World India Championship in New Delhi, which gets underway on October 15. McIlroy has proven to be a dominant force in the standings, having won the last four Race to Dubai titles, making Reed’s current position at the summit all the more hard-earned.
Reed has occupied the top spot in the standings since February, a commanding position built on a stellar early-season stretch. His victories at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic and the Qatar Masters were sandwiched around a narrow play-off defeat at the Bahrain Championship, and the 2018 Masters champion has also accumulated three additional top-10 finishes along the way.
Reflecting on his pursuit of the European crown and his broader philosophy on global golf, Reed highlighted the importance of testing oneself outside of home waters.
"I’ve always prided myself as being that American that likes to play around the world," Reed said. "To have the opportunity to come over here, not only just play on this tour, but also to have a chance to win the Race to Dubai, it would mean a lot.
"Gary Player once told me, ‘if you want to be a worldwide player, you’ve got to go out and play outside of the PGA Tour.’ Once I got the opportunity to come over and play, I really enjoyed it. Hopefully, I can bring more Americans over and more of the top players come out and play around the world, help grow the game."
Reed has also spoken about his desire to earn his competitive opportunities rather than rely on exemptions or invitations. Discussing his path through the professional landscape, he noted, "I’ve always wanted to earn my spot rather than having a spot given. Those guys on LIV, there are pathways, whether it’s to here on the DP [World Tour] or to the PGA Tour. I feel the only way you should be able to get back is by going out there and letting the clubs do the talking."
Reed ‘uncomfortable’ but ‘still able to perform’
Reed’s return to action follows a worrying physical setback at Wentworth in September, an event where he was ultimately forced into a rare mid-tournament exit. Prior to that, he had also finished as the runner-up to Shane Lowry at the Amgen Irish Open earlier in the month.
Recalling the sudden onset of his injury, Reed admitted he was caught entirely off guard. "Never saw it coming. It was my first time withdrawing during a round of golf due to injury. I would rather shoot a million than withdraw," he said.
"When I went in, the hand was all swollen. Any time it was touched, I was in a lot of pain, so they thought I might have broken something inside the hand. The hand was OK and it ended up being a shoulder issue. The good thing is it only set me back one week."
Despite not being at 100 percent physical capacity, Reed remains resolute about his outlook for the remainder of the campaign. "It might be uncomfortable, but at the same time, I’m able to perform and do what I’m supposed to do in swinging the golf club. So no excuses—go out there, continue grinding, and hopefully finish off the year strong."
A star-studded field has gathered in Madrid for the Open de Espana, though it will notably miss one of its most famous local figures. Three-time tournament champion Jon Rahm will not participate in his home event, with Spanish media reporting that the 31-year-old is currently in the United States awaiting the birth of his fourth child, a daughter.
England’s Marco Penge returns as the defending champion at the venue in Madrid. Meanwhile, the high-profile field features a host of Ryder Cup stars and contenders, including Shane Lowry, Justin Rose, Ludvig Åberg, and Sergio Garcia, alongside Eugenio Chacarra, who currently occupies third place in the Race to Dubai standings directly behind Reed and McIlroy.
Reed’s broader professional journey has seen notable transitions recently. Having quit LIV Golf earlier in the year to pursue a return to the PGA Tour starting in 2027, the American has also found himself back in the conversation regarding the United States Ryder Cup team. Reed has not represented his country in the biennial competition since the 2018 matches in France, where his tenure was marked by open criticism of captain Jim Furyk’s strategic decisions following a heavy defeat to Team Europe.
With Furyk returning to captain the United States squad for the 2027 tournament at Adare Manor in Ireland, questions naturally arose regarding Reed’s potential inclusion. During a press conference marking the one-year-to-go milestone for the event, Furyk was asked whether Reed remained part of his long-term plans.
"We are going to put the best 12 guys, the best team of 12," Furyk responded. "If Patrick Reed is one of those, that’s great."
Live coverage of the Open de Espana is available on Sky Sports Golf starting at 1pm on Thursday, with simultaneous broadcasts on Sky Sports Main Event from 3pm.