Patrick Reed holds the 54-hole lead in Dubai. His LIV Golf compatriot David Puig sits in second place, four shots behind heading into Sunday’s final round. But the conversation at the DP World Tour’s Rolex Series event isn’t about their golf.
In any case, this is not the main subject.
As members of LIV Golf, Reed, Puig and others will be subject to fines from the DP World Tour for participating in conflicting events once LIV’s season begins in February. While Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are appealing the fines they began collecting when they joined LIV in 2024, Reed will have no problem shelling out the money to remain a member in good standing of the DP World Tour, although the exact punishment is unknown.
“So we don’t really know what that means for this year,” Reed told reporters in Dubai on Friday. via Evin Priest of Golf Digest. “I mean, if it happens that I have to pay fines to play here, so be it. I’m not going to let that stop me from showing my support and playing on this tour. I’ve done it since I won the (2014) WGC (Cadillac event in Doral) and I have no plans to stop.”
The DP World Tour fines members who participate in conflicting events without permission. Fines are weighted based on whether or not the LIV event is in the same time zone or region as the current DP World Tour event. Fines are higher if a LIV event takes place across the street from a Rolex Series event or other marquee tournament.
But if Reed manages to complete the job on Sunday in Dubai, he will collect a winner’s check for $1.5 million, which can help him pay the fines he is about to incur.
“Go ahead and win early (in the season) and that will take care of it,” Reed said jokingly.
“There’s so many different factors that come into play…I’d rather just play and (if it) costs me that, whatever, I’ll go play. Play well, and it makes up for it,” Reed said later.
As for Puig, the young Spaniard is taking the same approach as Reed. Although he hopes the DP World Tour and LIV Golf can reach an agreement, Puig will “pay whatever it takes” to remain a member.
“In my case, I want to be part of the tour, so I will do everything I can to continue to be part of it. If it allows me to pay any amount, I will do it,” Puig told reporters on Friday. via bunkered.co.uk.
“It’s expensive, obviously, but I’m willing to do it. That’s why I joined the tour. We’ll see what happens. I don’t really know what’s going to happen, but in my case, I’m willing to do whatever I can to be a part of this tour.”
As for Rahm and Hatton, they scored a small victory in 2025 when a reprieve was granted to their fines pending a final verdict disbarring them. The move allowed them to be part of the victorious European team for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, provided they played the minimum number of events required to remain a member of the DP World Tour. Rahm told GOLF Mediocre podcast that the fines amount to more than 3 million dollars. The two-time major champion insisted he would not pay the fines even if he and Hatton ultimately lost their appeal, which is likely.
On Wednesday, Rory McIlroy noted that Team Europe had all said they would “pay to play” in the Ryder Cup instead of being paid to play like members of Team USA, and that Hatton and Rahm, two core members of the team, This is exactly what I can and should do.
“We pushed very hard with the Americans that they would be paid to play the Ryder Cup, and we also said we would pay to play the Ryder Cup,” McIlroy said.
“There are two guys who can prove it.”
While Rahm and Hatton await the final verdict on their appeal, Reed hopes another 18 holes on the Majlis course at Emirates Golf Club will clear up the fines awaiting him once the LIV season begins.
For Reed, as long as he does his part, the fines won’t be that bad.
“I like being that American that comes in and tries to be a thorn in everyone’s side when all the Europeans are playing,” Reed said. “It’s fun, it’s fun to come play, and hey, if I play like I’m supposed to, that’ll take care of the fines.”
