Patrick Reed’s BMW PGA Championship came to a sudden end on Friday after the American withdrew during the second round at Wentworth, following a disastrous opening nine and an apparent wrist injury.
Reed had started the prestigious DP World Tour event strongly, carding a 4-under 68 in Thursday’s opening round. However, his fortunes changed dramatically on Friday as he struggled badly around the West Course.
The former Masters champion began his second round with a triple bogey and never managed to recover. His tee shot at the opening hole flew 231 yards into bushes, and after taking a drop, he eventually missed an eight-foot putt that would have saved him a double bogey.
Things continued to unravel. Reed dropped another shot at the second, then found trouble again at the fourth when his tee shot went out of bounds, resulting in a double bogey.
He followed that with another bogey at the fifth before briefly settling down with pars at the sixth and seventh.
The nightmare returned at the eighth when Reed found the water with his second shot, leading to another double bogey. By the time he reached the ninth, he had played the opening nine holes in 9-over par and had fallen to 5-over for the tournament.
Reed then hit his tee shot on the 10th, but appeared to be experiencing discomfort in his wrist. He was subsequently taken away from the course by cart and withdrew from the championship.
The withdrawal is a major setback for Reed, who entered the BMW PGA Championship leading the Race to Dubai standings.
It also comes just one day after Reed admitted he was frustrated despite opening with a 68. He said he had been hitting the ball well but was disappointed that more of his putts had not dropped.
“I’m frustrated to say the least,” Reed said after his opening round.
“The game’s there, it’s steady, it’s where it needs to be. Yeah, just need to go out there and make a few more putts.”
Reed’s withdrawal is particularly significant given the battle developing in the Race to Dubai. Rory McIlroy is chasing an eighth title and arrived at Wentworth looking to close the gap on Reed.
McIlroy himself opened with a 69 after briefly taking the outright lead before three late bogeys damaged his score.
Reed had also spoken earlier in the week about his desire to challenge McIlroy throughout the remainder of the season, saying that competing against the four-time major champion was something he looked forward to.
Now, however, Reed will leave Wentworth without the opportunity to continue that battle this week, with his withdrawal coming after one of the most difficult stretches of golf of his season.
The extent of Reed’s wrist issue has yet to be established, but his sudden departure adds another twist to an increasingly intriguing Race to Dubai battle.
