Patrick Reed hits back at Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel's "insulting" comments
Patrick Reed tells The Times: "I’ve done more for this Tour than Billy has and I’ve played almost as much as Rory has for the past five years."
Patrick Reed has hit back at Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel following their comments about LIV Golf players competing in the DP World Tour's flagship tournament of the season at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth last week, following an interview with The Times.
McIlroy claimed it would be "hard to stomach" seeing the 17 LIV Golf Tour players aligning on the West Course, while Horschel considered a number of the LIV Golf players should not have been there and that they were "hypocrites".
"I feel like making those types of comments is insulting," Reed told The Times.
"Let’s be honest, I’ve [played the DP World Tour] more consistently than some of the Europeans on the PGA Tour, so for them to take shots at other guys, especially Billy and Rory taking shots at the LIV guys saying they shouldn’t be here — I’ve done more for this Tour than Billy has and I’ve played almost as much as Rory has for the past five years.
"I was able to talk to a bunch of DP World Tour players [on Tuesday] and not a single one of them had any issue with me being here because of the support I’ve shown this tour throughout my career, throughout Covid and at smaller events as well as big events.
"These other guys sitting there and talking saying you can’t play two tours, that’s hypocritical as ever, these guys are playing the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour."
Reed went on to finish a very respectable tied fifth in the tournament after closing with a stunning 63 to finish 14-under par.
Shane Lowry won the BMW PGA Championship on 17-under par finishing one shot clear of McIlroy and Jon Rahm.
Horschel, who was defending the title, finished tied ninth on 13-under par.
Reed reiterated to the media after his final round on Sunday that he felt no hostility during his week at Wentworth.
"I definitely felt welcome," said Reed.
"The guys were very respectful, very nice to me. They were the same as when I come over and play year-in and year-out every time."
As an Honorary Lifetime Member of the European Tour, Reed intends to return to play in as many DP World Tour events as possible moving forwards, despite having joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour.
He added: "For me as a player and as an honorary lifetime member, I definitely will come back and play. I don't plan on being one-and-done.
"I always want to play at least the minimum and continue to hold my card. I take pride in that, I take pride in being a worldwide player and coming over and playing on The European Tour.
"Nothing will change how I feel about coming over to play."
Reed addressed a number of other subjects in his interview with The Times such as accusations of cheating that go as far back as when he was at the University of Georgia, as well as being "put down as a villain".
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