Former Masters champion Patrick Reed has announced that he is leaving the LIV Tour with immediate effect and returning to the PGA Tour.
Reed, who won the Dubai Desert Classic in some style at the weekend, released a statement on X this afternoon, saying that he would no longer compete on the breakaway tour.
"After careful thought and consideration, my family and I have decided that I will no longer compete on the LIV Golf Tour," Reed said.
"I am excited to announce that I am returning to the PGA Tour as a past champion member for the 2027 season and am eligible to begin competing in PGA Tour events later this year.
I will continue to compete and play as an Honorary Lifetime Member on the DP World Tour, which is something that I am truly honored and excited to do.
"I'm a traditionalist at heart, and I was born to play on the PGA Tour, which is where my story began with my wife, Justine."
The PGA Tour subsequently released a statement of their own, confirming that Reed had "informed the PGA Tour of his desire to return."
The PGA statement added, "As a result of resigning his membership in 2022 prior to violating any PGA Tour regulations, Patrick is eligible to compete on the PGA Tour as a non-member beginning on 25 August 2026. He may also pursue improved PGA Tour status via the DP World Tour."
LIV Golf released their own statement saying, "we were not able to come to terms with Patrick on a potential contract extention. We're grateful for everything he contributed during his time on the 4Aces at LIV and wish him the best."
Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, noted on Sunday following his victory in Dubai that he was out of contract and had yet to sign a new deal, saying, "we're still finalising the contract. We're not complete on that yet."
The 35-year old is expected to compete on the DP World Tour until August.
The news of Reed's departure is another major blow to the LIV Tour, following the departure of Brooks Koepka last month.
Koepka was readmitted to the PGA Tour under the hastily established 'Returning Member Programme', a mechanism specifically designed to facilitate his return and that of other high profile players still on the LIV Tour.
Under the terms of the programme, a player is eligible - subject to certain conditions and limitations - to return if they have won one of the four majors or the Players Championship between 2022 and 2025.
Koepka, a former World No. 1 and five-time major winner, was eligible under this criteria due to his 2023 PGA Championship victory.
Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith would all be available to return on the same basis.
However, all three currently have a deadline of 2 February to apply for reinstatement if they want to feature this season, with "no promise this path will be available again", according to PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp in an open letter.
Rory McIlroy said on Tuesday that several big names were not happy on the LIV Tour, saying that it "seems like some of those guys are maybe starting to realise that they're not getting everything that they wanted out of going over there."
Reed, who did not qualify for immediate readmission under that criteria, is a nine-time winner on the PGA Tour, most notably at the 2018 Masters where he finished one stroke clear of Rickie Fowler for his sole major championship win.
A three-time Ryder Cup player, Reed joined the LIV Tour in 2022, where he won just once, coming out on top in a four-way playoff in Dallas last June.
