Patrick Reed produced his own desert storm to lead by four shots heading to the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.
Reed bounced back superbly from an opening hole bogey to post seven birdies, including five over his closing dozen holes in a round of 67 for a 14-under tally on the Majlis course in Dubai.
The Texan capped his round by holing a 50-foot chip-in shot for birdie at the ninth while he holed a six-feet for a second birdie of three days at the last.
REED’S GOLFING DESERT STORM ….
Reed @PReedGolf @livgolf_league leads the way, turning-up the with 7 birdies & take a four-shot lead at 14-under into last day @DubaiDCGolf
Fellow #LIVGOLF David Puig second
Read: https://t.co/Tz3v90Sh31
Getty
✅ @TOURMISS… pic.twitter.com/XTdGZJtxHg
— Fatiha (@TOURMISS) January 24, 2026
The LIV star is looking to go one place better than finishing runner-up two years ago to Rory McIlroy though McIlroy finds himself two years struggling in seach of a fifth Dubai title, posting a third day 71 to be sharing 27th place at three-under, 11 shots adrift of Reed.
McIlroy’s three rounds are a sour mix of 11 birdies, six bogeys and a first day double-bogey.
Spaniard David Puig made for a LIV Golf one, two atop of the DP World Tour leaderboard thanks to his round of 66 for a 10-under tally.
The 35-year-old Reed was naturally delighted with his effort and looking also not only at a fourth DPWT triumph but a 12th pro career success.
“Obviously at the end, it was definitely solid and good score at the end,” he said.
“There early in the round, just didn’t really settle out and even after the birdies on 2 and 3, it was just kind of one of those things that the swing didn’t feel a hundred percent, but I was missing it where I need to and just relying on my putter to work.
“On 7, it clicked there when I hit a really good drive on 8. From that point on from there, I felt like the swing was really solid and I had it locked in, and I was able to take advantage of the par 5s.”
Reed has won three DPWT sanctioned events, including the 2018 Masters and one could gather, winning in Dubai after the events of two years ago, he’d dearly love to be handed the stunning trophy.
“You’re always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead,” he said.
“I feel like that’s what I feel like all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays and play late on Sundays and just battle out with all the guys. I know it’s not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn’t matter how big of a lead you have.
“Looking forward to tomorrow and just hopefully go out there and keep doing what I’m doing, putting well and hitting fairways and greens”.
Patrick Reed – DP World Tour Career Facts
2011 – Tour debut at Alfred Dunhill Links – MC
2013 – Won at his second DPWT event – WGC Cadillac Championship
2015 – First tournament in Dubai T10th DP World Tour Championship
2018 – Won The Masters
2019 – Awarded DPWT Life Membership
2020 – Won WGC – Mexico Championship
2022 – Makes his LIV Golf debut on June 30th at Invitational Series in Portland, Oregon.
2023 – Runner-up Hero Dubai Desert Classic
2024 – Again like 2023, contests six DPWT sanctioned events.
2025 – Contests 14 DPWT sanctioned events with a best of third at The Masters.
2026 – DP World Tour career earnings – Euro 12,831,141.50 – from 120 DPWT events.
2026 – Prior to final round Hero Dubai Desert Classic: 1st – 3; second – 4; third – 5; Other top-10s – 23.
