Green Jackets are a prized possession at Augusta National and 2018 Masters champion Patrick Reed returns this week as one fortunate owner. He does so with a few more allies in his corner, however, following his announcement that he was departing LIV Golf.

Reed, 35, confirmed in January he would be parting ways with the Saudi-backed circuit ahead of an anticipated return to the PGA Tour. He remains ineligible to compete in PGA events until after August but that won’t stand in the way of his pursuit of a second Masters title this week. The Texan was among the first wave of players to abandon the PGA and switch allegiances to LIV back in 2022. Having now reversed that move, he opened up about his thinking and the reasons behind his decision to return, citing his family as a particularly pressing element.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated ahead of the 2026 Masters, he said: “We had an offer, but at the end of the day, it was kind of one of those things that when I sat down and talked with my wife [Justine] and my team, I just felt like the best decision for us was to come back and join the PGA Tour, so I could be closer to home and with the family.

“There’s nothing that I felt like was going on between LIV and us or anything like that. As I said, we had a contract, had a deal, but at the end of the day, I felt like the best thing for us was to come to the PGA Tour again.”

EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page

Although Reed is unable to compete in PGA Tour events until this summer, he is well on his way to re-establishing himself on the DP World Tour. Indeed, he has already secured two victories on the European circuit since returning to action at the start of the year.

Shortly after announcing his departure from LIV, Reed stormed to victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic by four strokes in January. He then narrowly missed out in a play-off at the Bahrain Championship before clinching the Qatar Masters title, all within the space of a fortnight.

“It definitely happened quickly, but it was one of those that, when I was over there in Dubai and playing, I really just kind of was sitting back and realizing that I wanted to get back and not only join-have an opportunity back on the PGA Tour, but get back to the traditional way of golf and playing,” he added.

“When I stood there in Dubai, that Saturday, the entire range was full, and then guys just started disappearing, and you’re the last man on that tee box. Then you’re walking to the tee, you’re the last name announced, and you’ve lost the lead because someone is five-under through eigt.”

“All those just rushes and those scenarios, kind of going back into playing golf that way, where you’re going out there, and you’re having the battles between not just yourself, but the other guys on the leaderboard. For me, I wanted that back, I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings, especially with the way I played those last three weeks.”

It appeared far from coincidental that Reed’s own choice to return to the PGA Tour came shortly after Brooks Koepka confirmed his comeback in December. The five-time major champion was the first big name to announce his departure from LIV and was granted special dispensation to rejoin the PGA Tour this year.

Reed described this as “the perfect time” to walk away from LIV Golf, noting he was not under contract with the organisation at the time. And while he may currently be barred from PGA Tour events, he remains very much in contention for a second Masters title having recorded five top-10 finishes at Augusta across his last eight appearances.