Robert TheodorsonFor Patrick Reed, this weekend at The International Series’ Link Hong Kong Open is about so much more than a title defence, it’s about reinserting himself back into the conversation as of the best golfers in the world.
Back in 2024, Reed pulled off what most golfers only dream of, breaking 60 in a professional tournament. That’s what happened at last year’s Link Hong Kong Open when Patrick Reed scored 59 on Saturday.
The low score of his career was made in part by an error-free outing that included eleven birdies on the Par 70 Hong Kong Golf Club.
His first professional win since 2020, Reed’s victory in Hong Kong was an announcement to the world that the 2018 Masters winner was officially back.
Reed would go on to finish 3rd in the 2025 Masters, his best finish by far since his win seven years prior. That strong finish also helped Reed build the confidence he needed to snag another professional victory, this time in his home state of Texas at LIV Dallas, and in a finale that featured Reed winning a three-way playoff, beating out Louis Oosthuizen and Jinichiro Kozuma.
2025 was a successful campaign indeed. Reed’s win at Dallas, paired with three additional Top 10 finishes in Miami, Korea, and The UK were good for a 7th place finish in LIV.
More Than Just a Title at Stake
Reed’s victory in Hong Kong last year accomplished several things.
First, the Link Hong Kong Open win was good for just over ten points in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) system. Paired with his 3rd place finish in Augusta and a few additional successful international tournaments, Reed currently sits in 46th place, a ranking almost unimaginable for someone on the LIV circuit who hasn’t won a major recently.
The win also provided Reed with the opportunity to compete at the 2025 Open at Royal Portrush. His two-round score of 147 (77, 70) was not enough to make the cut, but it did mark the first time Reed had competed in all four major championships since 2023. His automatic qualifying bids by virtue of winning the 2018 Masters now expired, Reed must seek additional pathways back into the majors.
The Link Hong Kong Open will be Reed’s second tournament in as many weeks, previously playing The International Series’ Philippines event where the 4 Aces star came in 20th with a final score of 11-under par.
These are the types of events that can and often do lead to bigger things, as evidenced by Reed’s use of the 2024 tournament as a springboard for a super successful 2025.
To remain Top 50 in the world, it’s likely to be a busy end of the year for Reed. Though unconfirmed at this time, two potential additions to his itinerary currently present themselves: The International Series will be heading to Singapore a week after Hong Kong, with several LIV Golfers expected to take part to earn those all-important OWGR points.
Simultaneously, The DP World Tour, on which Reed is 22nd in the rankings for The Road to Dubai, will also be hosting the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, November 6 – 9.
