Patrick Reed becomes Lifetime Member of European Tour

Patrick Reed has been awarded Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour in recognition of his Masters Tournament victory last year. Or was it his sterling work in destabilising the USA Ryder Cup team in Paris...

Let's assume the former... Reed was presented with Honorary Life Membership by European Tour Chief Executive Keith Pelley at the controversial Saudi International, where he is making his second European Tour appearance of the 2019 season after November’s Honma Hong Kong Open.

Reed is the 55^th player to receive European Tour Honorary Life Membership, and joins Francesco Molinari, who received the prestigious honour in December to recognize his Open Championship title at Carnoustie.

Reed is only the fourth American to receive the honour, and joins Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson, so he is keeping some stellar company.

* Was The European Tour Right To Take The Tour To Saudi Arabia After Recent Murder?

Reed said: “Words can’t really describe how proud I am right now. It’s always been a dream of mine to be a worldwide player and play on both Tours. Now, to be able to fulfil that on the European Tour, and to travel the world and grow the game means so much to me.

“For the European Tour to have faith in me and give me this opportunity means everything. I hope to show everyone and show the Tour how proud I am and represent the Tour really well in the game of golf.

“It’s such an honour to be named alongside Jack, Arnold and Tom. They are legends of the game of golf, not just because of what they’ve done on the golf course, but because what they’ve done off the golf course. They have helped grow the game and grow their communities. That’s something I’m trying to do, to follow in their footsteps and grow the game of golf. I want to do it worldwide like those guys. To be part of such a small group is unbelievable and it’s hard to even talk about.”

Keith Pelley, Chief Executive of the European Tour, said: “Patrick’s masterful performance at Augusta National last April was full of character and determination, which is everything we’ve come to expect from him.

“Winning the Green Jacket meant he took his place among some of the game’s great players and we are delighted to give him further recognition with Honorary Life Membership of the European Tour, becoming just the fourth American after Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson to receive this prestigious award.

“Patrick is a global player who has fully embraced the European Tour and he has been extremely popular with our fans wherever he has played because of that.”

"We're also looking forward to working with Patrick to imagine new ways of messing with the minds of the 2020 USA Ryder Cup team," is something they probably didn't also say...

And whilst we're at it:

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