DPWT makes expected Patrick Reed announcement as showdown with Rory McIlroy looms

Major champion Patrick Reed has confirmed he will compete in the DP World Tour Championship.

The former Masters champion is aiming to convert his long-standing lead in the Race to Dubai rankings into the Harry Vardon trophy. 

American Reed, 36, is also hoping to prevent his former Ryder Cup rival, Rory McIlroy, from winning his eighth order of merit title. 

Should the Northern Irishman leapfrog Reed, it would see him draw level with Colin Montgomerie's record of eight titles, a record he set in the 1990s. 

Reed has held top spot in the rankings for more than seven months after moving into first place in February following a strong start to the season.

He won the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, a Rolex Series event, by four shots in January to claim his fourth DP World Tour title. 

Two weeks later, he added a fifth with a two-stroke victory at the Qatar Masters.

The world number 29 is now bidding to become only the second American to finish as European number one, following Collin Morikawa, who won the Race to Dubai title in 2021 and became the first player from the United States to win the DP World Tour Championship.

Reed will make his eighth appearance in the season-ending tournament when play begins on the Earth course next month.

"Dubai is where the season really got going for me, so it would be pretty cool to finish it there with the Harry Vardon trophy," Reed said.

"I've played the DP World Tour Championship a bunch of times over the years, so I know the golf course pretty well and what it takes to get it done there. 

"There are some really good players behind me, and that’s what makes the DP World Tour so competitive. 

"You know you're going to have to play well right to the end."

Reed and McIlroy are not the only golfers in contention to win the Race to Dubai. 

Eugenio Chacarra, 2026 US PGA Championship winner Aaron Rai and Open champion Ryan Fox complete the current top five.

The Race to Dubai title will be decided at Jumeirah Golf Estates at the conclusion of the season.

Reed's inclusion at the DP World Tour's season finale was expected, but his appearance had been in doubt after his BMW PGA Championship ended abruptly last month. 

He suffered an injury to his left wrist while playing a shot from the trees in his second round. 

The injury appeared to occur on the ninth hole. 

Reed was attempting to play his ball from among the trees when his club came through awkwardly, with reports suggesting he may have struck a tree root. 

Television footage showed him appearing to be in pain and later flexing his left hand.

Reed initially attempted to continue and hit his tee shot on the 10th, but he subsequently withdrew from the tournament and was taken away from the course in a buggy. 

The DP World Tour confirmed that he had retired through injury.

The precise nature and severity of the injury were not immediately confirmed.

Reed was scheduled to take part in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in Scotland this week, but withdrew.