Patrick Reed Schedule: South African Open Debut Next Up

Patrick Reed celebrates winning the Qatar Masters — (Image credit: Getty Images)

The in-form Patrick Reed will continue his DP World Tour campaign by making his debut at the Investec South African Open Championship.

Stellenbosch Golf Club will play host to the second oldest national open in world golf from 26 February to 1 March, an event that's co-sanctioned with the Sunshine Tour.

It will be a first trip to South Africa for Reed, who is looking to become the first American to win the South African Open since Fred Wadsworth in 1989.

“I’m really excited to make my first trip to South Africa. I have many friends from South Africa and I look forward to competing in their home country on the DP World Tour and in conjunction with the Sunshine Tour,” said Reed.

Reed made the surprise decision to leave LIV Golf shortly after winning the Dubai Desert Classic - and decided to concentrate on the DP World Tour while he waits to become eligiblle for a PGA Tour return.

His form in the Middle East was brilliant, following victory in Dubai with play-off defeat at the Bahrain Championship and then another title win at the Qatar Masters.

Reed has now risen up to World No.17 in the Official Golf World Ranking, a position that will help him get into the three other Majors this year, with the Green Jacket winner obviously set for life at The Masters.

But there is also a safety net available at the South African Open with the top three finishes not already exempt getting guaranteed spots in the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale in July.

Defending champion Dylan Naidoo will be in the field trying to go back-to-back, while the likes of Ernie Els and Charl Schwartzel will headline the home challenge along with Branden Grace, Dean Burmester and Thriston Lawrence.

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Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.

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