Let the conversation begin: 4Aces GC's Reed making his bid for Ryder Cup 

With his first LIV Golf individual victory coupled with a strong overall season, Patrick Reed has put himself squarely in the United States Ryder Cup team discussion.  

Last week at LIV Golf Dallas presented by Aramco, the 4Aces GC star showed off all the attributes that make him the type of player who thrives when conditions are tough. Maridoe Golf Club proved to be a difficult test. The rough was thick, the greens were firm and fast, and wind was a factor.  

After winning a four-man playoff with an incredible shot on the first playoff hole followed by a 16-1/2 foot putt for birdie, Reed spoke about the challenge of the golf course. 

“You definitely not only had to hit the ball solid, but you had to manage your game around this place because with the wind swirling and pumping quite a bit and with how hot it was,” he said. “You know how it is in Texas – one minute there's no wind, the next minute it's blowing 20. It was a mental and physical grind out there and luckily, we were able to get the job done.”

The Ryder Cup in late September will be held at Bethpage Black, a difficult 7,468-yard par-71 layout that challenges players with exceptional length and punishing rough, demanding both mental and physical resilience. Reed thrives on such demanding layouts, having previously conquered Bethpage Black at the 2016 Barclays with a score of 9 under, a winning total right in his wheelhouse.

Reed, dubbed “Captain America” for his past Ryder Cup heroics, has already proven he has the grit to thrive in such a test. His 7-3-2 record across three Ryder Cups, including a perfect 3-0-0 in singles, are evidence that he’s built for match play. At Hazeltine in 2016, he outdueled Rory McIlroy in a Sunday showdown that still echoes in golf lore. Reed made birdie after birdie with fist pumps that ignited the crowd. New York golf fans, known for being loud and raucous, would embrace Reed’s fire and flare for the dramatic. They don’t want golf claps; they want a fighter who thrives under pressure.  

Reed’s LIV Golf breakthrough in Dallas, which moved him into fourth in the league’s season-long individual race, should come as no surprise. Starting with his win last November at the Hong Kong Open, he’s made 19 worldwide starts, with nine top 10s and 15 top 25s. In those eight months, just two other Americans on the major tours have won multiple individual stroke-play tournaments – Scottie Scheffler and athis year's U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Keegan Bradley.

On golf’s biggest stages, he finished 3rd at the Masters and T23 at the U.S. Open. In major championships this season, he ranks 9th among all players who’ve played at least 8 major rounds in strokes gained total per round.  

The 34-year-old is showcasing a resurgent all-around game in 2025, averaging 1.01 strokes gained total per round – the highest in four years. As one of the world’s top scramblers and putters, Reed’s skills are tailor-made for the Ryder Cup, with his short-game prowess evidenced by his strokes gained around the green (+0.24) this season, which is consistent with his elite numbers over multiple years.

Bethpage Black’s punishing rough and demanding greens require finesse, versatility, and the ability to get up-and-down from tricky lies. Statistically, Reed’s best putting surface throughout his career has been Poa annua, the same grass used on Bethpage Black’s greens. In his two starts at the course in his career, he’s gained an average of 0.38 strokes per round putting.  

Over the past three months, Reed has quietly played his way into peak form.  His iron play has been a standout, gaining nearly 0.92 strokes per round on approach. Last week in Dallas, he gained 1.90 strokes per round on approach. He also hit 72.2% of his greens in regulation, which ranked 3rd in the field.

But it’s Reed’s mentality that seals the case. Bethpage doesn’t reward saints. It rewards those who deliver, and Reed always does. 

His recent form, highlighted by his playoff victory at LIV Golf Dallas last week, signals his readiness for the Ryder Cup, an event he admitted is important to him. “It’s always on your mind,” Reed said. “Anytime I get to represent our country, it means a lot to me. For me personally, I’m always thinking about trying to make every team. Obviously being a part of LIV where we don’t get points, it’s an uphill battle, but really for me it’s focused on playing great golf and having a chance. It’s really going to come down to the Open Championship, having a chance to win there.”

His passion for representing the U.S. drives his pursuit, despite the challenge of earning Ryder Cup points outside of LIV Golf. Now, The Open Championship at Royal Portrush, where Reed finished 10th in 2019, looms as a critical opportunity. 

In 2023, Bradley was left off the U.S. Ryder Cup team, despite a strong season, including a win at the Travelers Championship. After the selections were announced, Bradley didn’t hold back, saying. “I’m disappointed, but I understand it’s a tough decision. I just feel like the process sometimes favors the guys in the inner circle, and I’m not in that club.” His exclusion stung; a wound deepened by the sense that personal ties trumped merit. Bradley, now the 2025 U.S. captain, knows that pain firsthand. 

It would be a shame if Bradley, of all people, repeated that mistake with Reed. To sideline a player of Reed’s caliber – whose Ryder Cup record, course fit and current form make him worthy of a Captain’s pick – because of politics or cliques would betray the spirit of competition Bradley himself championed. Bethpage Black doesn’t care about popularity contests; it demands warriors. Reed is that warrior.

Bradley, who fought to prove his worth, should give Reed the chance to do the same. Anything less would be a disservice to the team, the fans, and the Cup itself.