Patrick Reed is hoping to extend his advantage at the top of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai after confirming his return to this week’s BMW PGA Championship, the third Rolex Series event of 2020.
The American made his debut at Wentworth Club last year, sharing fourth position – one of seven top 20 finishes he recorded on the European Tour in 2019.
He posted weekend rounds of 67 and 66 over the famous West Course to finish five shots behind winner Danny Willett and the two former Masters Champions are part of a strong field again this week. They are joined by Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood, Matt Fitzpatrick and Justin Rose - all of whom are in the world’s top 25 - and Ryder Cup legends Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer.
The Race to Dubai leader @PReedGolf out early this morning. 🎯#BMWPGA #RolexSeries pic.twitter.com/S3oqdATsBi
— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) October 6, 2020
“I really enjoyed my first time at the BMW PGA Championship last year,” said Reed. “The great reception I got from the fans in the UK was obviously a big part of that so it’s obviously a shame they can’t be there this week, but I’m sure they will be watching on TV and it will be another fantastic tournament.
“I’m looking forward to playing Wentworth again. It’s a great course and another really strong field so hopefully I can play well again and do even better than I did on my debut last year.”
World Number Nine Reed, who won the WGC-Mexico Championship earlier this year, returned to the top of the Race to Dubai Rankings presented by Rolex after finishing tied 13th in the US Open at Winged Foot. He holds a 28 point lead at the top of the European Tour’s season-long standings and after finishing runner up to Francesco Molinari in the 2018 Race to Dubai, he is hoping to go one better this time round.
“There’s a lot of golf still to be played, including the Masters, but I’ve given myself a great chance of winning the Race to Dubai,” said Reed, who received Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour at the start of 2019. “A victory in the BMW PGA Championship would certainly help me in that goal.”
The BMW PGA Championship is the second consecutive Rolex Series event on the European Tour following last week’s Aberdeen Standard Investments Scottish Open, won by Aaron Rai who beat fellow Englishman Fleetwood in a play-off.
