Patrick Reed offers thoughts on current LIV Golf situation

Patrick Reed says he feels he has been welcomed back "since day one" after he quit LIV Golf at the turn of the year. 

Reed was among the first wave of players to be recruited by the breakaway tour in 2022 and was expected to extend his stay beyond this season. 

But the American made the surprise decision to walk away from LIV in January because he missed the experience of traditional golf. 

Reed wasn't given the Brooks Koepka treatment and will return to the PGA Tour next season. 

LIV Golf is currently fighting for survival and is trying to persuade enough golfers to stay for a revamped version of the league. 

Many are now expected to leave after the DP World Tour drew a line in the sand, forcing players to choose between LIV and the European-based circuit. 

The move has led to suggestions there could be a mass exodus, with LIV players hoping to return to the DP World Tour without a problem. 

Rory McIlroy told Bloomberg this week that he would vote in favour of letting LIV defectors return.

"I feel welcomed out here," Reed told reporters ahead of the DP World India Championship in Delhi. 

"I feel like ever since I got on the PGA Tour and played out there and once I got my European card and DP World Tour status, I've come over and always supported this tour. 

"Whether I played on the PGA or LIV, I always wanted to continue playing and supporting this tour."

He added: "This year having status over here and fully playing on this tour only has been something I've really enjoyed, and i feel like the guys have enjoyed having me come over and playing. 

"You know, just one of those things I don't feel any different.

"I feel like the guys have accepted me from day one. I think it was 2015 when I first came over. Felt like I've been accepted since then. 

"I can see how some of the guys would sit there and have an issue with guys coming over and just playing just the big events. 

"I've come over and played everything from big events, small events, events in the middle. I've always cherished being a worldwide player. 

"It's been fun. I feel like it hasn't been any different for me."

"Felt like I was trying to swing a sledgehammer"

Reed is only making his second start since having to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship in September. 

The former Masters champion hurt his shoulder after he hit a tree root playing a shot in the second round. 

Reed said he feared the worst at the time and was confident that he had broken a couple of bones in his hand. 

"Obviously that would've been an injury that would've required probably surgery," he said. 

"Wouldn't have been a very good one."

Reed said tests showed his hand was okay. 

"For me I was itching about getting back and getting out and playing," he said.

"Did I come back too early? Who knows. 

"At the end of the day the good thing is I can't hurt it worse, and because of that, I have the confidence and the comfort level to come out here and execute and perform at the highest level."

Reed currently leads the Race to Dubai ahead of Spain's Eugenio Chacarra and his former Ryder Cup rival McIlroy. 

McIlroy said the prospect of defeating Reed is giving him extra motivation as he attempts to draw level with Colin Montgomerie's record of eight order of merit titles. 

"There is still too many events left to sit there and worry about what Rory and Eugenio are doing," said Reed.

"I mean, with how elevated the points are in Abu Dhabi and how elevated they are in Dubai, it's still anyone's game."