Patrick Reed didn’t have the best memories of Le Golf National, after being part of the US Ryder Cup team in 2018 that was humbled by Thomas Bjorn’s side.
Reed went 1-2 for the American side that year. He also became embroiled in a bit of controversy after he famously called out US skipper Jim Furyk and Jordan Spieth.
It’s fair to say that for Captain America it’s been another unhappy week. Reed was playing the Open de France on the DP World Tour, in search of world ranking points.
Related: Trevor Immelman reacts to Greg Norman’s well wishes post
LIV Golf does not have Official World Golf Ranking [OWGR] accreditation, meaning that their players do not have a pathway to qualify for golf’s four major championships unless they are exempt.
Last week, LIV players signed a joint letter desperately imploring the chief executive of the OWGR, Peter Dawson, to consider granting their application.
Reed has caught a bit of criticism from anti-LIV critics in recent weeks. Reed claimed one of the reasons why he joined the LIV Golf Tour was to enjoy a schedule that wasn’t as jam-packed, allowing him to spend more time with his wife and children.
But he is on a stretch that will see him playing in as many as seven events in seven weeks.
The beginning of the week saw him complaining about alleged poor treatment by the DP World Tour. Reed said he wasn’t invited to a press conference. Nor was he involved in the pro-am.
Reed is an honorary lifetime member of the DP World Tour. He felt like his treatment was like “a slap in the face”.
This is all because Reed has joined the LIV Golf Invitational Series, a rival to the former European Tour (who are in a strategic alliance with the PGA Tour).
Related: PGA Tour chief rules out LIV co-operation
Reed made his LIV debut in June at their second $25m event in Portland, Oregon at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.
He was involved in a tense press conference where he tore in the PGA Tour alongside Pat Perez.
Since then, Reed has launched a $750m defamation lawsuit against the Golf Channel and prominent LIV Golf critic Brandel Chamblee.
The lawsuit claims that Reed has been actively targeted since he was 23 years old, creating a hostile work environment.
Related: 9 players who changed their mind about the LIV Golf Tour
Reed opened up his Open de France with a round of 73. He followed that with a 72 to leave himself at 1-over par after 36 holes, missing the cut by three shots.
He was as many as 18 shots back of the leader, Rasmus Hojgaard. And he leaves France without the world ranking points.
Since joining LIV, Reed has seen his world ranking fall from 36th to 50th. Now he is guaranteed to fall outside the top 50 when the new rankings are confirmed on Monday.
It will mean that for the first time since 2014, he will drop outside the top 50.
Reed will have a chance to try and get some more world ranking points soon. He’s scheduled to play at the DP World Tour’s Dunhill Links Championship.
A posse of LIV players will be in attendance, much to the annoyance of Rory McIlroy.
Watch our latest YouTube video:
Next page: Thomas Pieters clarifies bizarre ruling at Open de France
.