Patrick Reed winning Race to Dubai would be 'very good' for European Tour

Patrick Reed becoming the first American to win the Race to Dubai would be “a very good thing” for the European Tour, according to a fellow former Masters champion.

Patrick Reed's most recent appearance in a regular European Tour event was the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth in October. Picture: Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Reed tops the standings heading into next week’s season-ending DP World Tour Championship in Dubai despite only having played in three regular European Tour events this year.The 2018 Masters champion holds a healthy lead over former European Tour No 1 Tommy Fleetwood, with Lee Westwood, Dundee-based Frenchman Victor Perez and Scottish Open champion Aaron Rai also still in the hunt.

“I think it would be a very good thing for the European Tour,” said 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett in reply to being asked about the possibility of Reed coming out on top.

“I think he’s been a very solid promoter of our tour for three or four years now.

“He loves playing the European Tour, he loves the challenge of the different golf courses and the different conditions.

“If more Americans had been members of the Tour, with how they finish in majors and World Golf Championships, we may have seen other Americans win the Race to Dubai over the last few years but the guys haven’t wanted to commit to the minimum events.

“For me, good on Patrick for committing to them and he’s not only coming and playing the big events, he played the Porsche European Open in Germany and others just to get his numbers up.

“So, for me, if he were to do so (win) it would be a real feather in his cap.”

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