The 35th edition of the Hеro Dubai Dеsеrt Classic is set to take place from January 18 to January 21 at the Emiratеs Golf Club. It will feature some of the world’s top golfers competing for a $9 million prize pool. The prеstigious DP World Tour Rolex Seriеs еvеnt will see defending champion Rory McIlroy along with other star players. In the star-studded field, one name who played well last year is supposedly missing from the field.

With LIV golfers granted permission to participate in some events, except for some, a big question stands: Will Patrick Reed, the runner-up of the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic be part of this year’s tournament? 

Patrick Reed to tee it up at the Hеro Dubai Desert Classic?

The 33-year-old is not eligible to play in the Hеro Dubai Desert Classic because he plays for the Saudi-funded league. The two established tours, DPWT and the PGA Tour have imposed sanctions on the LIV Golf members and banned them from playing in most of their tournaments.

Although there are a few exceptions such as majors and Ryder Cup depending on the qualifications, the regular Tour events are the ones that LIV golfers cannot compete in. 

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The only exceptions are the events that are co-sponsored by the Asian Tour, and LIV Golf players can enter through their Asian Tour membership at events like the Hong Kong Open. Since it is a DPWT event, he is not part of it. If you’re wondering how he was eligible for the 2023 edition as he jumped the norman-lead league in 2022.

Well! On April 6, 2023, DPWT won its legal battle to suspend and fine LIV Golf players who played in rival league events without permission, and the event took place in January. Even though he participated in the tournament, he got into a rule controversy.

Rule controversy of Patrick Reed

Reed faced another rule controversy at the Dubai Desert Classic when his first shot on the 17th hole got stuck in a tree. The one-time Major Champion claimed he could see his ball’s unique markings with binoculars and took an on-the-spot penalty drop under the trее. However, a video clip suggested that his ball was in a different place than the one he dropped from. Rееd insisted that he was sure it was his ball and that he would not have dropped if he had any doubt.

Read More: “Little Sloppy, a Lack of Concentration”: Rory McIlroy Reflects on His Loss to Fellow European Pro at the Inaugural Dubai Event

The DPWT issued a statement clarifying a rule scenario. “The player subsequently took an unplayable penalty drop (Rule 19.2c) at the point directly below the ball on the ground. To clarify, the player was not asked to specify the tree but to identify his distinctive ball markings to confirm it was his ball.”

What are your thoughts on his absence from the Majlis Course? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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