Patrick Reed
Age: 27
Best result in 2018: 1st The Masters
Best Open finish: T12 (2016) Major wins: 1
Strengths
Patrick Reed is a Ferrari that has found a can of petrol. This polemic figure cuts his own cloth, dances to his own tune and does not give a monkey’s about any other person out there. Reed embodies the slogan “Each man for himself ”. This year saw Reed open his major bank account with a win at the Masters. He was calm, his dialogue with his caddie was succinct and he donned the Green Jacket not with the emotion of a player who may think that this would be the only major they would win, but with a calmness that spoke of an assurance of more to come. Reed is a sneaky competitor in so much as when you analyse his game, there is nothing from a statistical viewpoint that jumps out. He is just an all-round great player and his mistakes will be far less costly than any other golfer out there. Reed will not flap when there is the whiff of blood in the air.
Weaknesses
Reed’s technique is perfect for a course like Augusta National. At the top of his swing he displays an open clubface, swings a little in-to-out and, primarily, hits “baby” draws. In essence, he is quite a one-dimensional golfer who is not really comfortable when called to hit it left to right (a fade) in the air. Historically, shut-faced players have done well at the Open; David Duval, Tom Watson, Tom Lehman. Reed does not fit into this category. If his preparation has been succinct with a respect to the exam paper in front of him this week, Reed would have strengthened his grip like Jack Nicklaus did prior to the 1978 Open and empowered his shot-making abilities at Carnoustie.
Rating 4