Patrick Reed withdrew from a tournament for the first time due to injury

Patrick Reed explained why he withdrew from the BMW PGA Championship — the first tournament of his career he failed to finish because of an injury.

The 2018 Masters champion withdrew during the second round of September’s event at Wentworth Club in England. A day earlier, Reed had opened with a four-under 68 and was in contention, but he was nine over par through nine holes in the second round.

“I never saw that coming,” Reed said Wednesday ahead of the Spanish Open, his first event since the BMW PGA Championship.

Speaking to the DP World Tour, Reed said his neck and shoulder had been hurting at the start of the round before he injured his left hand. On the third hole, he played a shot from a cart path, and on the ninth he struck a tree root. On the tee at the par-3 10th, Reed hit his tee shot left of the green and then withdrew.

“My hand swelled up. I couldn’t even hit a normal flop shot or a normal iron shot on the next hole. At that point, because I couldn’t make a normal golf swing, I thought the best thing was to walk off,” he said.

Reed feared he had broken his hand, but tests after he returned home to Texas revealed “a shoulder issue.” The injury caused him to miss two DP World Tour events. He nevertheless remains the season-long points leader on the circuit, where he has played since leaving LIV Golf in January. The top 10 in the points race will receive 2027 PGA Tour cards.

“It might be uncomfortable, but at the same time I’m able to perform and do what I’m supposed to do — swing the golf club. So no excuses. Go out there, continue grinding and hopefully finish the year strong,” Reed said.

He also admitted that withdrawing from the BMW PGA Championship was especially difficult emotionally.

“It was hard, especially at that place. Wentworth is such an amazing event, the turnout is awesome, and I’ve played some really good golf there. I was in form, playing really well and hitting the ball great, so for that unfortunate Friday to happen was a big disappointment. But it’s one of the obstacles and ups and downs you have to deal with throughout the year if you want to finish it strongly.

“We made the right decision. I took last week off as well, on doctors’ orders, to give myself one extra week. Because of that, I feel healthy enough to come back out here, play and compete. The game still feels pretty solid,” Reed added.