Reed: I can’t wait to take on role of Captain America
Patrick Reed doesn’t mind being overlooked as Masters champion and taking on the role of Captain America in the Ryder Cup. The man who first showed his passion for the event at Gleneagles in 2014, angering the home crowd with a “shhhhhh” gesture in the singles, was the home star at Hazeltine two years ago.
He’s since become a major winner but it’s that Captain America cape and not the Green Jacket that he’s relishing the opportunity to pull on at Le Golf National outside Paris.
“It’s awesome,” said Reed of this event. “I felt like the fans, especially back home, they are just trying to get me in that mindset and get ready to go out and get ready for Ryder Cup; being Captain America and going out and playing,” said Reed of his nickname.
“It’s a good problem to have to have people either saying Captain America or Masters champion.
“Before, I only had one of them and now to have both of them it feels great but this week, I’m definitely Captain America. Coming overseas, Captain America, I was supposed to be the villain, just like when Ian Poulter comes to the States, he’s the villain.
“So you expect to hear the fans kind of go back and forth with you. If it’s not happening, it probably means you’re not playing very well, and they are just like, all right, we’ve got him in check.”
Recalling that match in Perthshire, he added: “They didn’t boo me because of anything that was disrespectful or because they didn’t like me.
“I think that elevated 2014 because, as the round went on, the crowds got louder and louder. It’s just something fun.”