Dubai winner Reed still to sign new LIV deal

Rory McIlory and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton finished 12 shots adrift at two under

Patrick Reed of the United States poses with the trophy on the 18th green following victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club. Pic: Getty Images

Newly-crowned Dubai Desert Classic champion Patrick Reed revealed he is currently out of contract with LIV Golf and has yet to sign a new deal.

The 2018 Masters winner secured his first victory on either of the two established tours with a four-stroke triumph over England's Andy Sullivan at Emirates Golf Club.

Afterwards the American, who finished 14 under par, admitted he had not yet re-signed for the Saudi breakaway series, despite the first event of its new season starting in Riyadh on February 4.

"We're still finalising the contract. We're not complete on that yet," he said.

"I don't like to talk business and stuff while I'm playing. Starting tonight and tomorrow, we'll get back to talking and things like that."

Asked whether he could have played his last event for LIV, Reed added: "Not that I know of, not right now. At the moment, I plan on teeing it up in Riyadh and I'd be surprised if we're not.

"It's just one of those things with contracts and stuff. There's a lot of language and wording in contracts and, at this point, I don't know where everything stands."

Reed has already considered his options in the event he does not re-sign with LIV.

"Continue to play out here and be in the top 10 and be on the PGA Tour next year (the top 10 in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai automatically earn a place)," he said.

That is his only pathway back to the PGA Tour as Reed does not qualify under the newly-introduced Returning Members Programme, which was hastily written to allow five-time major winner Brooks Koepka to rejoin after he quit LIV a year early in December.

The only others eligible are Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Cam Smith, who have a deadline of February 2 to make the switch.

Reed, who had held the lead since the second round in Dubai, started the day with a four-shot advantage and, although playing partner David Puig halved the deficit by the turn, the Spaniard bogeyed the 13th as his American rival birdied to restore his previous cushion.

Sullivan recovered from a three-over front nine with four birdies in his final seven holes for a one-under 71, Puig dropping to seven under after a two-stroke penalty for grounding his club in the bunker at the last.

Tom McKibbin finished on four under, Shane Lowry was at three under, with Rory McIlory and defending champion Tyrrell Hatton one shot further back.