THE name Patrick Reed may have flown under the radar of many golf fans but after the 23-year-old American’s emphatic win in the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship on Sunday that should no longer be the case.
Reed beat the best field of the year so far at the aptly named, and redesigned, Doral Blue Monster course in what was his third win in just 14 starts.
Reed, who will join a very select band of golfers with three US PGA Tour victories before their 24th birthday, certainly has no doubts about his own abilities.
“I’ve worked so hard,” said Reed. “I’ve won a lot in my junior career, did great things in my amateur career, was 6-0 in match play at NCAAs, won NCAAs two years in a row, was third individually one year [All referring to his college career]. Now I have three wins out here on the PGA TOUR.”
“I just don’t see a lot of guys that have done that, besides for Tiger Woods, of course, and all of the other legends of the game. I believe in myself – especially after how hard I’ve worked – that I’m one of the top five players in the world. To come out of a field like this and to hold on wire-to-wire like that, I feel like I’ve proven myself.”
Wearing black pants and a red shirt on the final day, it was obvious who he models himself on.
“The best player ever to live when I was growing up wore black pants, a red shirt,” Reed said. “I was growing up watching him. I always thought, `You know, it would be cool to wear black and red coming down on Sunday. Just happens to be that we both wear it on Sunday now.”
The Blue Monster
The Blue Monster monster, aided by some very stiff winds, decimated a field that included 49 of the world top 50 (World No.4 Jason Day pulled out before teeing off with a thumb injury).
Reed (72) at 4-under and joint runners-up Bubba Watson (68) and Scotland’s Jamie Donaldson (70) tied on 3-under were the only players to better par.
What happened to Adam Scott?
Adam Scott was doing nicely in the weather delayed first round when he was 2-under and just a couple off the pace when lack of light stopped play at the end of his from nine.
Scott, heavily publicised to be shooting for the world no.1 spot if he won the tournament, came back on Friday local time to finish his back nine only to find a course wracked by strong winds. Players said it was like a tough British Open course only with lots of water hazards.
Scott went on to play a back nine any weekend hacker would be proud off. It included two double bogeys and three singles. Still. his total of 3-over 75 wasn’t that bad compared to many others. Scott went on to finish with uncharacteristic-looking rounds of 75, 73, 72 & 73.
His tournament total 4-over wasn’t that bad in the scheme of things, especially considering he tied for 25th along with a number of others including Tiger Woods (78), Rory McIlroy (74) and Luke Donald (69).
Woods, who shot a tournament best round of 66 on Saturday, was obviously struggling on the final day with his ongoing back issues.
As for the other Aussies in the field, Scott Hend went one better than his more famous compatriot, finishing with a 71 to be tied on 16th on 4-over. Brett Rumford probably would not want his scores repeated and will no doubt chalk it all down to experience, while as previously mentioned, Jason Day pulled out before the start with his thumb injury.
All in all a very good weekend for the very self-assured Patrick Reed, but many others will want to scrub the whole thing from their memories.
Please, no! He is a cry baby! I noticed it the very first game I saw him play in – with his wife caddying for him. Top 5, hardly!!!