LIV's Patrick Reed makes stunning Masters claim: "Coincidental but planned!"

Patrick Reed believed the announcement LIV Golf players had lost their arbitration case against the DP World Tour was deliberately timed to coincide with the opening day of The Masters.

Reed was one of a number of players who were sanctioned by the European-based circuit last June when the breakaway tour kicked off their inaugural season and disrupted the status quo of men's professional golf. 

Those fines - which were £100,000 - were upheld by Sports Resolutions, a UK-based arbitration panel made up of three retired judges. 

Their decision after the five-day hearing in London in February was expected relatively swiftly, but in the end they came to their conclusion after two months. 

News filtered through LIV players had lost before The Masters, then it was officially confirmed hours before the first groups teed off at Augusta.

Essentially, the decision means that the former European Tour has the right to sanction players who play in conflicting events without permission. 

Reed told Tom Kershaw of The Times the announcement was 'coincidental' but 'planned', adding:

Related: How LIV pros reacted to the news

When asked if he was disappointed, Reed said that wasn't the right term. "We strongly feel that the Sports Resolutions ruling is wrong," he said. 

LIV are reportedly still weighing up how to respond. 

Reed - who attended the DP World Tour v LIV Golf hearing in person was asked if he would be considering further legal action. 

He said:

DP World Tour chief executive Keith Pelley has not closed the door completely on the 'rebels', insisting they can return once they pay their fines.

The elephant in the room is the Ryder Cup. Pelley previously said of this:

Related: Jim Nantz denied LIV Golf dig at The Masters

Of the future of LIV players and the potential of more sanctions, he also added:

Take me to more news!