Patrick Reed To Join LIV Golfers In Scottish Asian Tour Debut

Reed has been confirmed for the inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship in August

LIV golfer Patrick Reed in action
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Patrick Reed is set to return to the UK later in August to play in the inaugural St Andrews Bay Championship.

The 2018 Masters champion is one of several LIV players to tee it up in the $1.5m event in the 12th leg of the 2023 Asian Tour and the sixth stop on its International Series. Reed, 32, joins Sergio Garcia and Joaquin Niemann among a host of players from the LIV roster at the Torrance Course at Fairmont St Andrews just four miles from the Old Course at the 'Home of Golf'. 

The 7,230-yard venue, previously host on the DP World Tour and European Seniors Tour as well as being a venue for Open Qualifying, will now welcome a number of LIV players including South Africans Dean Burmester and Branden Grace, Australian Matt Jones, Spaniard Eugenio Chacarra, Colombian Sebastian Munoz, New Zealander Danny Lee and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger.

But it is Reed who has performed best at this year’s Majors following a share of fourth at Augusta in April, joint 18th at the PGA Championship, tied for 56th at the US Open and equal 33rd at the Open.

Ahead of the event from 24-27 August, Cho Minn Thant, Asian Tour Commissioner & Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’ve had some strong fields at our International Series events thus far and the St Andrews Bay Championship is no exception. It’s wonderful to have such prominent players compete more regularly on the Asian Tour since the establishment of the International Series and this definitely validates the Asian Tour’s growth into a global Tour.

“I know this will motivate and inspire our Asian Tour members to raise their games. It’s a fantastic opportunity for them to test themselves against genuine world-class players at a world-class venue.”

Winner of nine tournaments worldwide, Reed achieved his highest world ranking of sixth in June 2020 and is fourth in the individual LIV standings after helping the 4 Aces top the team event.

Patrick Reed with the Masters trophy in 2018

Patrick Reed with the Masters trophy in 2018

(Image credit: Getty Images)

In the 2022 LIV Golf Invitational series, he was in the top-five three times, including a runner-up spot in Bangkok, and finished fourth in the Individual Champion standings.

As LIV Golf is not accredited by the Official World Golf Ranking system, LIV members like Reed, who is ranked 50th, have chosen to play the Asian Tour to still get points and help them secure entry to the Majors.

Part of the Asian Tour’s 2023 ‘UK Summer Swing’, the St Andrews event will be preceded by the International Series England, at Close House in Newcastle.

The Asian Tour’s International Series comprises 10 events, featuring elevated prize funds. Following the first four International Series events of 2023, American Andy Ogletree leads the way in the overall standings.

In the meantime, Reed and the 4 Aces are due to be back in LIV action on Friday at the Old White at The Greenbrier.

James Nursey
Contributor

James Nursey is a freelance contributor to Golf Monthly after spending over 20 years as a sports reporter in newspapers. During a 17-year career with the Daily Mirror, he covered mainly football but reported from The Open annually and also covered a Ryder Cup and three US Opens. He counts a pre-tournament exclusive with Justin Rose at Merion in 2013 as one of his most memorable as the Englishman went on to win his first Major and later repeated much of the interview in his winner’s speech.  Now, after choosing to leave full-time work in newspapers, James, who is a keen single-figure player, is writing about golf more.  His favourite track is the Old Course after attending St Andrews University but has since played mainly at Edgbaston, where he is a long-time member. James’ golfing highlights include previously winning the club championship and scratch knock-out there. He is also an active member of the Association of Golf Writers and Press Golfing Society but his favourite round is playing the game with his young children. James is currently playing:  Driver: Ping G400 3 wood: Ping i20 Hybrid: Ping i20 Irons: Ping i500 4-SW Wedges: Ping Glide forged 50, 56 Putter: TaylorMade Spider Tour Ball: Titleist ProVIx