A pain that forced him to withdraw and made the golf world briefly hold its breath: Patrick Reed had to withdraw from the BMW PGA Championship after a painful injury to his left hand initially raised fears of a fracture. However, medical tests quickly showed that the problem was more related to his shoulder. Now the man from Texas is back and teeing off at the Spanish Open in Madrid.
What a drama unfolded: Reed started the second round with neck and shoulder discomfort. On the first tee, he recounted, his shoulder even "popped." Later, on the third hole, he had to hit a ball from a cart path, and on the ninth hole, he hit an invisible tree root. After that, his left hand swelled massively. By the time he reached the par-3 tenth hole, a normal flop shot or iron swing was out of the question. Withdrawal was the only option – a tough blow for Reed, who would rather have shot a "million" than give up. It was the first time he had withdrawn from a round due to injury.
The Drama at Wentworth
After the involuntary withdrawal at Wentworth, the flagship event of the DP World Tour, Reed flew home to Texas for examinations. The good news: there was no fracture. Doctors confirmed the shoulder-related issue. After an additional week of rest and intensive care, Reed feels fit again, and his golf swing is performing strongly once more. Although the injury cost him two DP World Tour starts, the setback was limited to about one week of competition time. For fans, it was a shock, as Reed had opened the BMW PGA Championship with a strong 68 before being nine strokes over par on the first nine holes of the second round.
Comeback with a Statement
Since his departure from LIV Golf in January 2026, Patrick Reed has been fully committed to the DP World Tour and continues to lead the Race to Dubai. He is pursuing a clear mission: a return to the PGA Tour after his one-year suspension expires. It looks very much as if his strong performances in Europe have already all but secured his return for 2027. The Spanish Open, taking place from October 8th to 11th at the Club de Campo Villa de Madrid, is the perfect stage for him to celebrate this comeback and underscore his ambitions.
