Unbeaten Spieth, Reed set to square off at Match Play

AUSTIN, Texas — Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed play some of their most spirited golf against one another in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup, remarkable only because they’re on the same team.

Now they’re opponents. And the stakes in the Dell Technologies Match Play are personal. The loser goes home. The most intriguing match that came out of the draw at the start of the week was packed with significance Thursday when Spieth and Reed won matches for the second straight day to set up a showdown on the skirts of Hill Country in Texas.

They play today, one of four matches between players who have yet to lose this week at Austin Country Club.

Reed fired the first shot when asked what made Spieth a good opponent in match play.

“I don’t know. My back still hurts from the last Ryder Cup,” he said with a laugh, alluding to the way he carried Spieth in their partnership at Hazeltine to a 2-1-1 record in team play during a rare American victory.

Spieth dodged trouble early against Li Haotong, who missed putts inside eight feet on two of the opening three holes, won the second hole when Spieth hit into the hazard and thought he won the fourth hole until Spieth matched his birdie by chipping in from short of the green.

Spieth never trailed and pulled away.

Reed and Spieth are 8-1-3 as partners in the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. They are 1-1 in PGA Tour playoffs, with Reed hitting through the greens to short birdie range when he won the Wyndham Championship in 2013, and Spieth returning the favour in 2015 at Innisbrook by winning a playoff with a 30-foot putt.

“Because we’re so competitive with each other within our own pairing at the Ryder Cup, we want to outdo each other. That’s what makes us successful,” Spieth said.

The other three matches involving players with 2-0 record are: Sergio Garcia vs. Xander Schauffele; Alex Noren vs. Tony Finau; and Justin Thomas vs. Francesco Molinari.

Thomas can reach No. 1 by winning this World Golf Championship because Dustin Johnson, the defending champion, was among 20 players already mathematically eliminated. Johnson won seven matches last year. He has lost both his matches this year, including to Canadian Adam Hadwin on Thursday.

Others eliminated were Jon Rahm, last year’s runner-up, and Zach Johnson.