“Going by the Rules,” Patrick Reed Reacts to Tom Watson’s Comments Over Brooks Koepka’s Shocking LIV Exit and Return to PGA Tour

Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka left LIV Golf after the 2025 season and brought an end to a 4-year stay with the PIF-backed league.

“Going by the Rules,” Patrick Reed Reacts to Tom Watson’s Comments Over Brooks Koepka’s Shocking LIV Exit and Return to PGA Tour

Tom Watson, Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka (Image via Golf/X/@UnderdogGolf)

On Thursday, the 90th Masters Tournament got underway at the Augusta National Golf Club. Before the tournament, 8-time major champion Tom Watson made some comments regarding Brooks Koepka‘s return to the PGA Tour. Patrick Reed would later react to it.

In December 2025, Koepka stunned the golf world by leaving LIV Golf. The former World No.1 was one of the high-profile names who had jumped ships from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf in 2022.

After spending 4 years and winning 5 times on the Saudi-backed tour, Koepka left them. A few days later, he expressed interest in returning to the PGA Tour.

In January 2026, the American international was reinstated on the tour through the PGA Tour Returning Member Program. This made him the first big name to return to the tour.

Later that month, Reed became the second player to leave LIV Golf. However, unlike Koepka, he was not directly allowed to return. The 9-time PGA Tour winner will return to the circuit in 2027 through his status as a past champion. He is also eligible to compete in later events this year.

Both Reed and Koepka are playing in the Masters Tournament this year. On Thursday, Tom Watson was asked about Koepka’s return to the tour.

The veteran golfer did not seem too pleased with no strict action against the 5-time major champion. He expressed that if he had been the commissioner, he would have kept the ex-LIV golfer banned.

I thought the LIV players, when they left, they were supposed to be banned for life. If I was commissioner, that’s what I would do. I’d say if you’re finished with your contract with LIV Golf, if you want to play the PGA Tour again, you come back, and you must play the Korn Ferry Tour for a year to qualify for it.

Tom Watson said regarding Brooks Koepka and LIV Golf

Reed, who had an impressive showing in the opening round, was later asked about these comments from Watson. While he did not name Koepka, the 2018 Masters Champion expressed that he (Reed) was “going by the rules” and claimed that he could not wait to come back.

I’m just going by the rules. I’m doing my time from what they said on Player Handbook, and I’m excited to come back playing on the PGA Tour. I can’t wait really to get back and finish my career on the PGA Tour where I started.

Patrick Reed said regarding Tom Watson’s comments

The 35-year-old started the round with a birdie and an eagle on the first two holes. He made another eagle at the 8th hole and finished the front nine with a score of 31. This was his lowest score on the front nine at the Masters Tournament.

On the second nine, Reed started with a bogey on the 10th. A second bogey on the 15th hole saw him drop to 3-under par for the day. He finished the opening round with a score of 69, 2 shots behind co-leaders Sam Burns and Rory McIlroy.

Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka shine in showdown against ex-LIV Golf league mates at 2026 Masters

Last year, LIV Golf had 12 representatives at the Masters Tournament. This year, the number came down to 10 following the exit of Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka. In the first showdown against their former league mates, Reed and Koepka shone in the first round.

Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka
Patrick Reed and Brooks Koepka (Image via PGA Tour/Golf)

Reed, who had finished 3rd in the Masters Tournament last year, started from where he left. Despite two bogeys on the second nine, his two eagles on the front nine saw him finish with a 3-under par score. He was T3 alongside Jason Day and Kurt Kitayama in the leaderboard.

Meanwhile, Koepka had a mixed round. He made 5 bogeys and 5 birdies to finish the round with an even par score of 72. He was T17 along with Sergio Garcia and several others.

This performance of Koepka was better than most LIV Golfers. Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau, who are at the top in the LIV Golf individual standings, had a day to forget. While the former shot his worst major score, the latter finished with a score of 76.

Out of the ten LIV Golfers, only Garcia shot an even par score. All of the others had scores of over par in the first round.

A few of them face the danger of being unable to make the cut on Friday. The cutline is projected to be around 3-over par. The likes of DeChambeau, Rahm and Carlos Ortiz, who shot a score of 80, will need a strong performance in the second round to keep their hopes alive.

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