Controversial LIV Golf star Patrick Reed says that his treatment by the DP World Tour has been a “slap in the face” after he was banished to the shadows at this week’s French Open.
Reed, one of the most unpopular players in golf over the past five years, is playing at the event as he tries to accumulate world rankings points, which are absent from LIV Golf events.
But while a legal ruling allows Reed to complete at the French Open, the DP World Tour has made it clear that he is not welcome.
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Reed was not invited to play in the pre-tournament pro-am and he wasn’t put up for a mandatory press conference despite being the only Masters winner in the field.
The American also believes that he was “hidden” in the pairings for the first round, far away from the marquee groups.
“It’s a slap in the face not to invite me to the press conference, or not to have me play the pro-am and all those things,” he told Journal Du Golf.
“At the end of the day, it’s just my golf that I have control over. I’m here to support the Tour, France and all the people who are here.
“But I don’t see why we can’t move from the LIV to the European Tour (DP World Tour) like we usually move from the PGA Tour to the European Tour.”
Reed went on to say that many of his colleagues hold no hard feelings against him for his decision to reject the traditional tours for the Saudi-backed breakaway.
“A lot of players understand and support my choice and have nothing against me. I didn’t feel any animosity against me from them,” Reed said.
Earlier in the week, Reed said that his DP World Tour login credentials “haven’t worked for two weeks”.
The 32-year-old also came under fire for playing in the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA Championship, earlier this month.
PGA Tour loyalists Rory McIlroy and Billy Horschel slammed Reed and other LIV Golf members for showing up having made their choice to join another tour.
Reed hit back earlier this month, however, telling The Times: “I feel like (Rory) making those types of comments is insulting.
“Let’s be honest, I’ve (played the DP World Tour) more consistently than some of the Europeans on the PGA Tour, so for them to take shots at other guys, especially Billy and Rory taking shots at the LIV guys saying they shouldn’t be here. I’ve done more for this Tour than Billy has and I’ve played almost as much as Rory has for the past five years.”
