Patrick Reed's Ryder Cup hopes take hit as he pulls out of first Fed-Ex Cup play-off

Ireland's Shane Lowry with the USA's Patrick Reed after their opening round at the Tokyo Olympics. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Patrick Reed's hopes of qualifying for this year's US Ryder Cup team took a hit as the former Masters champion withdrew from the opening event of the FedEx Cup play-offs in New Jersey before his early-morning tee time on Thursday.

The decision marked the second consecutive week Reed has pulled out of a tournament before the opening round and leaves him with just next week's BMW Championship in Maryland to automatically qualify for the Ryder Cup.