It's time to pay attention Patrick Reed's barrage through DP World Tour with PGA Tour waiting on other side

Reed ranks No. 1 in the DP World Tour's Race to Dubai thanks to two early season wins that may only be the beginning

Mornings for golf fans frequently consist of brewing a pot of coffee, flipping on PGA Tour coverage and answering emails with one eye on the golf in the background. Dew still rests on fairways as perfectly manicured golf courses, ideal weather and birdsong flood living rooms and in-home offices. Fans' appetites are whetted by coverage of rookies before marquee groupings finally make their way to the first tee.

For some, that routine has been altered this year, largely due to Patrick Reed.

The 2018 Masters champion has entered the winner's circle in two of his last three DP World Tour starts with wins at the Dubai Desert Classic and Qatar Masters sandwiching a playoff loss at the Bahrain Championship. Reed has ascended to No. 1 in the Race to Dubai, all but assuring him a full-time PGA Tour card for the 2027 season; those are offered to every golfer who finishes inside the top 10 of the season-long race, not otherwise exempt.

Reed's point total has already reached 2,260 through four tournaments. Last season, Jordan Smith claimed the final PGA Tour card through the Race to Dubai with just 2,203 points. The year prior, Tom McKibbin did the same with 1,897 points (though he ultimately decided to play for LIV Golf instead).

Reed will climb the priority rankings for the 2027 season after banking on using a past champions' exemption to play some PGA Tour events after deciding not to re-sign with LIV Golf. That will no longer be necessary as the American has jumped to No. 17 in the Official World Golf Rankings ahead of names like Collin Morikawa, Ludvig Åberg, Cameron Young and Matt Fitzpatrick.