Patrick Reed Explains Painful BMW PGA Withdrawal, Targets Strong Finish at Spanish Open

Patrick Reed says he had never withdrawn from a tournament mid-round because of injury — until last month's BMW PGA Championship forced his hand.

The 2018 Masters champion was contending at Wentworth after an opening 68, but the second round turned painful fast. His neck and shoulder were already hurting when he struck a cart path on the third hole, then hit a tree root on the ninth. By the par-3 10th, his left hand had swollen so badly he could no longer make a normal swing, and he headed in.

"I mean, I would have rather gone out and shoot a million," Reed said Wednesday ahead of this week's Spanish Open, his first start since the withdrawal, "than actually withdraw."

Reed said he feared the hand was broken, but tests near his Texas home revealed a shoulder issue instead. The setback cost him two DP World Tour events, yet he remains the season-long points leader — a valuable position for the former LIV player, who left the breakaway league in January, since the top 10 in the points race earn PGA Tour cards for 2027.

"It might be uncomfortable, but at the same time, I'm able to kind of perform and do what I'm supposed to do and that's swing the golf club," he said. "So no excuses. Go out there and continue grinding and hopefully finish off the year strong."