Part of the reason why Patrick Reed took steps toward LIV Golf was Dustin Johnson. Talking about his move during a LIV Golf press conference in 2022, Reed said, “DJ says, you have to come. I knew it was going to be a good decision, the right thing to do. I just needed DJ to push me over the edge a little bit.” Undoubtedly, DJ has played a huge role in his career, so it wasn’t long before Reed fell in love with LIV Golf… and its team format. His first words after joining LIV? “I’m really excited! Anytime I can bring that team aspect and go out and play for something other than just myself.” For Reed, both Johnson and his wife, Paulina Gretzy, are important people in his life.

Patrick Reed recently appeared in a LIV Golf video interview and discussed his friendship with fellow LIV players and specifically about Dustin Johnson.“I feel like that’s what’s been huge about LIV is being around these guys and being a part of a team. That’s one thing I felt on the PGA Tour is a lot of guys would just, basically, they’d go and they’d see the guys at the golf course. Then, they’d leave and go home. So, out here on LIV, it’s like we’re all traveling together and we’re all doing everything together, so you’re actually getting to know people.” Part of the reason his relationship with LIV Golf is amazing is because of Johnson and Gretzy, “I mean, him, Paulina, and Justine— all of us together. I feel like it’s been a great and authentic relationship,” he said in the same interview.

While it may be wrong to say that PGA Tour pros do not enjoy great friendships between them—take Tiger Woods’s and Rory McIlroy’s friendship, for instance—Reed isn’t entirely incorrect. One of the facts working in favor of LIV Golf is probably its team-oriented format that encourages unity and cooperation among its players, since they’re not only playing for themselves but for the entire team. Additionally, shared travel and accommodation experiences help form better friendships.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time an ex-PGA Tour player has talked about the benefits of LIV Golf’s team format. Ahead of LIV Golf’s first Texas event in 2024, Jon Rahm discussed how the Saudi-backed league’s team format helped deal with the “individual sport.” “Obviously nervous about it, and to see it go in and to think about something more than just yourself is always nice. It’s always something I envied from other sports, being an individual sport,” Rahm said during the pre-round interview. However, besides Jon Rahm’s comment, one other moment solidifies Reed’s statement.

Dustin Johnson’s brutal jibe at fellow teammate proves Patrick Reed’s comment

Before the trade to the 4Aces team in 2024, Harold Varner III passionately admitted that he “hated” Dustin Johnson’s team. He made this comment at the 2023 LIV Greenbrier, where a reporter asked him about his thoughts on the 2022 Team Champions, and he replied, “I hate the Aces!” However, based on the recent banter between Dustin Johnson and him, it is clear that Harold Varner III has come a long way since 2023.

Before taking a look at their banter, here’s the context: during his 2024 season, Varner III faced a precarious position, teetering just above the drop zone with only two events left to play. Fortunately, he managed to avoid relegation and finished in the open zone, but he still relied on Johnson’s support to secure his place on the team.

In the latest episode of LIV’s “LIV To Win,” Varner III appeared eager to improve upon his performance from the 2024 season, and both his eagerness and his struggles did not go unnoticed by the 4Aces team captain, Dustin Johnson. During the episode, while active on the driving range, the golfer said to Johnson, “I am ready to respond.” He was full of energy and positivity! However, Johnson, reflecting on his struggles from the 2024 season, grinned and jibed, “Well, you better be. You can’t be any worse than last year.” Patrick Reed is right; nothing reflects true friendship as strongly as constant jibes at each other!