One of the biggest arguments against players’ leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf has been their inability to amass points in the Official World Golf Ranking, which LIV withdrew its application from on March 5.
With LIV golfers free-falling down the OWGR list, high-quality players like Patrick Reed are now in jeopardy of not qualifying for major championships.
Without an invitation, Reed could miss the PGA Championship in May. The PGA sent out its first batch of invitations on March 12, and Reed, who is ranked 109th in the world, was not on the list, according to the Associated Press.
“It’s not from a lack of effort. Reed played twice on the Asian Tour last week (a tie for seventh and a tie for 15th), and he is playing this week in Macau,” Doug Ferguson wrote in a March 12 story. “The Masters presumably would be his last chance to make an impression. He has yet to win in the LIV Golf League .
Patrick Reed’s Consecutive Majors Streak Could End at the Masters
GettyReed plays his first PGA Championship in 2014 at Valhalla, the site of the 2024 PGA Championship.
Thanks to his winning the 2018 Masters Tournament, Reed will never have an issue teeing it up in Augusta because former Masters champions can play at the tournament for as long as they want.
His win at the 2018 Masters exempted him for the next five years in every major, but that exemption ran out in 2023, and now Reed is in trouble for golf’s other three majors in 2024.
The PGA of America does send out special exemptions. LIV competitor Joaquin Niemann got one, but Niemann won on the DP World Tour late last year and has dominated LIV events to start 2024.
Could Patrick Reed Get an Invite From the PGA?
GettyReed holds the trophy after winning the 2018 Masters.
According to Ferguson, “None of the majors have a category for leading players from LIV Golf, and there’s no indication that will change. The PGA of America has the largest list of invitations, which for years has included the top 100 (and a little beyond) in the world ranking. It just doesn’t list the top 100 as a category.”
Managing director of championship for the PGA of America Kerry Haigh was asked if there would ever be a LIV points list but didn’t give much of an answer.
“We look at all the lists,” Haigh said, according to Ferguson. “We don’t necessarily put a number on it. If players are deserving, hopefully we would invite them.”
The PGA has invited LIV players with unspectacular recent form in the past as well. For example, Paul Casey received an invite to Oak Hill last year but had to withdraw with an injury. But Reed hasn’t done much to warrant consideration. He’s struggled to get in contention much on LIV Golf itself, and he managed only a 7th and 15th on the weaker Asian Tour last year. He’ll play on the Asian Tour in Macau on March 14 before teeing it up on more time on LIV in Miami the week before the Masters.
Reed will likely need to either win in Augusta for automatic qualification or contend and catch some eyes to get an invite from the PGA in the weeks leading up to the tournament at Valhalla Golf Course on May 16.
Who Currently Has the Most Consecutive Majors Played?
GettyAdam Scott celebrates his 2013 Masters victory.
With injuries, COVID-19 and LIV Golf presenting themselves in recent years, the active list of consecutive majors played has taken a massive hit. Longevity has often been one of the greatest measures of a player’s career in golf, but it has been getting more rare.
Sergio Garcia held the top mark at 82 in a row before he had to withdraw from the 2020 Masters because of a positive COVID test. Even if that didn’t happen, he failed to qualify for two majors in 2023 after joining LIV. Adam Scott instead holds the top active mark at 89 majors in a row. The Aussie has always stayed in top health and usually schedules his year around preparing for the majors.
It’s a huge drop after Scott. Justin Rose’s streak ended after missing the 2022 Open Championship. Rory McIlroy would be second on the list but missed the 2015 Open Championship to prevent a very long streak.
Jordan Spieth currently holds the second longest streak at 42. He hasn’t missed a major since qualifying for the 2013 U.S. Open.
Right after him is Reed, whose first major was the 2014 Masters. He hasn’t missed a major since with 39 championships played in a row. That mark will hit 40 at the Masters, but he’ll need to do something special to extend it beyond that.
Comments
Former Masters Champion Could Miss First Major in a Decade After Going to LIV