DON’T LOOK BACK, PATRICK
REED LEADS MASTERS AT -9, BUT STAR-STUDDED GROUP ON LEADERBOARD /
AUGUSTA, Ga. — There was not much to unsettle Patrick Reed on Friday afternoon at Augusta National. The weather was near perfect with bright skies and a slight wind creating pristine playing conditions. Now comes the hard part.
Mother Nature is expected to make her imprint on the 82nd Masters on Saturday, leaving Reed having to not only fend off those chasing him as the 54-hole leader, but the kind of weather that could make the third round feel more like a British Open.
The forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of rain with up to an inch expected the fall throughout the day. It could prove to be merely a nuisance or a nightmare and turn a soggy Masters into a test of endurance.
When asked if he was a “mudder,” Reed didn’t hesitate.
“I’m from Texas and it blows every day and rains every day in Houston,” he said. “I like it when it gets challenging.”
The weather might be the only thing to slow Reed, who shot Friday’s low round, a 6-under 66 that vaulted him to 9-under for the tournament. It gave him a two-shot lead over Marc Leishman of Australia, who fashioned a 5-under 67 on Friday to stand 7-under for the tournament.
Reed, the “Captain America” from the 2016 U.S. Ryder Cup triumph at Hazeltine, is seeking his first major championship. He made nine birdies Friday, putting three consecutive birdies together during three different stretches. He had made 14 birdies over the first two rounds of the tournament.
Reed has birdied every par 5, playing them 8-under.
“It’s important to attack the par 5s and make a lot of birdies,” he said. “It’s one of those things you have to do around here if you’re going to score.”
Reed said he wasn’t too concerned about the impending weather, not after playing as well as he did Friday.
“I’ve got go out and keep to my game-plan and play some solid golf and continue to shoot in the 60s and see if it gets the job done,” he said. “I’ve just got to play smart golf and play from the fairway. If I can play from the fairway I can pick my spots with my iron shots to the green.”
Augusta National drains well, but wet conditions will make it longer and give big hitters an advantage. It will also put a premium on having a solid short game. If it’s raining and windy, the scoring could be volatile.
“I don’t mind playing in some weather,” said Rickie Fowler, who stands at 2-under. “I’ve played some great golf in tough conditions whether its wind or rain. I’ve played the Open Championship and played well in it. You just take the right mindset knowing that you just have to go out there and battle it and get the best of it.”
Jordan Spieth thinks the bad weather will play to his advantage.
“Obviously, it becomes a tactical golf course when the conditions get tougher or you’re presented with tough breaks,” he said. “I think that’s an advantage for me. I feel like I tactically play this golf course pretty well.”
Reed said it will be key to keep the ball in play.
“My game plan has gotten me to this point,” he said. “The biggest thing is execute and give myself an opportunity to make birdies and roll in some putts. I’ve kept myself out of trouble and let my putter do the work. I didn’t hit my irons as well as I did Thursday, but I put it in the right spots and that allowed me to be aggressive with the putter.”
Leishman, who is also seeking his first major championship, described his round as “stress-free” on Friday. That’s going to change with the weather on Saturday.