Already winning two DP World Tour events this season has set Patrick Reed up for the top spot. When asked how much the No. 1 position is on his mind, Reed subtly hinted at wanting to take that position from a European great.

“You are at the top of the Race to Dubai rankings. I know it is early days. It is still only February, but how much is that on your radar?” the host asked in an official interview clip from the DP World Tour on X.

“It’s always on your radar. Trust me, you’d rather be in lead than rather than hunting and chasing,” Reed replied.

“And so for me, you know, it’s always been one of those things that it’s always been a dream of mine to be an American that comes out and wins the Race to Dubai. And, hey, we’re off to a fast start,” he further added.

That "dream" is a line that really counts as a European player has dominated the Race to Dubai leaderboard most of the time. In fact, Rory McIlroy has claimed the season-long title a record seven times, including a streak of four consecutive titles from 2022 to 2025.

Knowing that Reed has a history of rivalry with McIlroy in major golf tournaments, the context certainly makes his words more significant. Also, only one American, Collin Morikawa in 2021, has ever been able to end the final standings as No. 1.

Patrick Reed’s Qatar Win Reshapes His PGA Tour Path

It was a major milestone in Reed's career to have won the Qatar Masters. He finished at 16 under after a final round of 2-under-70, and this was not only his second DP World Tour victory but also his third week of winning at the same time.

As a result of this win, his Race to Dubai points have increased to 2,259, which means that his odds of being among the 10 non-exempt players receiving PGA Tour cards have been significantly improved.

It's safe to say that Reed is definitely going all out on targeting his full-fledged PGA Tour comeback in 2027. His run in the Middle East, two wins and a runner-up finish, has most probably ensured that pathway.

It looks like Patrick Reed will have plenty of time to rest before getting back on the green as well. The European tour is off next week and then resumes in Africa for a three-week stint.

However, there's no confirmation whether the 35-year-old will be playing. In fact, he doesn't need to. That's because Reed's ranking ensures him a spot in all upcoming majors.

Read more at Club Golf!

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi