Patrick Reed is back in the spotlight, and he's making his return count. The 2018 Masters champion opened the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club with a flawless 2-under 68 on Thursday—the only bogey-free round of the day. It's a statement performance for a player who's been away from the PGA Tour since the Masters, spending his time as a stay-at-home dad and grinding on the course near his home in Texas.

Reed's break wasn't entirely by choice. As part of his return to the PGA Tour after leaving LIV Golf, he's serving a hiatus that keeps him out of Tour events until after Aug. 25. That means most of this season will be spent on the European tour, where he's already won twice this year. But for the PGA Championship, he's all in.

The road to Aronimink wasn't smooth. Reed faced windy, warm, and rainy conditions during practice rounds last week, but he turned that into an advantage. "I really felt like it helped going into this week because you just never know," he said. Thursday's mix of wind and warmth—plus overnight rain that softened the course—proved his preparation was spot on.

Reed's return also comes amid major shifts in the golf world. Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund recently pulled the plug on future funding for LIV Golf, leaving many players in limbo. Reed, who acknowledged at the Masters that LIV had presented him with a contract earlier, is keeping his focus on the game. "Hope the guys continue playing some solid golf and get their opportunities," he said. "Whatever their future is, whether it's on DP Tour, try to get back to PGA Tour, or wherever they're playing, hopefully continue to play solid golf and go out there and do what they do."

For now, Reed is doing exactly that. His bogey-free 68 is a reminder of the talent that made him a major champion—and a sign that this break might have been exactly what he needed to reset. As the PGA Championship unfolds, all eyes will be on whether he can keep that momentum going.