Masters champion Reed eyes success at The Open
Patrick Reed would figure to be a player British fans love to hate, largely due to his passionate play for the other side in golf ’s Ryder Cup.
But at least one Scot found something to like Tuesday as the Masters champion tried a variety of shots in a British Open practice round on the links of Carnoustie before hitting a Scottishlike punch 6-iron that ran some 100 yards on the ground before ending up next to the pin on the 16th green.
“That’s the one!” the fan shouted, drawing a smile and a thumbs-up from Reed.
The shot was another indication that the baked-out links of Carnoustie plays entirely different than the lushly manicured fairways of Augusta National, where Reed had his breakthrough win in April to claim the green jacket. But it’s not like Reed believes he’s not prepared to win a second major and establish himself as one of the big threats in golf. He talked after his practice round about his wife and the team he has put together to do just that.
“I just know that we’re on the right path and what we’re doing is the right thing, and we just need to keep grinding and keep on going,” Reed said. “And hopefully add a claret jug and all the majors as well, and hopefully win the career Grand Slam at some point.”
Big goals, but Reed’s win at the Masters showed he is capable of accomplishing big things. No longer just a Ryder Cup hero for the U.S., Reed is now a major champion. Along the way he’s acquired a firm belief about how to play in the majors.
“The biggest thing is I treat them like they’re normal events,” Reed said. “I’ve always kind of gone in majors, put too much pressure on myself, having to go play well, having to do this, having to make birdie here. And now I go in there and try to play golf and keep in the mindset of, hey, it’s just another day on the golf course ... I’ve played pretty well in all three of them.”
That’s an understatement, because Reed’s record shows he should be considered one of the favourites to hoist the claret jug. Reed finished tied for second at the PGA Championship last year, won the Masters in April and finished fourth last month at the U.S. Open.