Patrick Reed’s streak of never missing a major since becoming eligible in 2014 faces uncertainty with the PGA Championship approaching in two months.
The PGA of America recently distributed its initial round of invitations, but Reed’s name was notably absent from the list. Instead, Joaquin Niemann secured an invitation due to his triumph at the Australian Open, coupled with two other top-5 finishes in European tour-sanctioned events and a LIV victory.
It remains unclear how much weight the LIV Golf Mayakoba win carried in Niemann’s invitation. Despite also receiving a special invitation to the Masters, only Niemann’s European tour performances were mentioned.
Kerry Haigh, the PGA of America’s managing director of championships, disclosed that another round of invitations will be issued following The Players Championship. The final roster will be unveiled in the weeks leading up to the May 16-19 championship at Valhalla.
Majors traditionally lack a category for top players from LIV Golf, and there’s no indication of any changes. The PGA of America typically relies on an extensive invitation list, which includes the top 100 (and beyond) in the world rankings.
However, Haigh emphasized that they consider various lists from global tours and aim to maintain consistency.
Reed’s world ranking has plummeted to 109th, partly due to LIV Golf’s absence from the world ranking system. Despite Reed’s recent efforts on the Asian Tour, including two appearances last week and one scheduled this week in Macau, his prospects remain uncertain. The Masters looms as his final opportunity to make an impact, given his lack of victories in LIV Golf.
The majority of LIV players invited to majors are recent major champions, but the R&A has not made exceptions for LIV in its criteria. One potential adjustment could involve final qualifying spots for the Open Championship, with efforts underway to increase them from 16 to 20 spots.
While some events like the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the Memorial offer limited spots for the Open, Reed’s exemption status remains precarious. His entry into last year’s U.S. Open was secured due to his former top-60 world ranking, a standing he no longer holds, pending his performance at the Masters.
