High-stakes showdown for a first green jacket
A UGUSTA, Ga. — This is just the way it was supposed to be: The 82nd Masters has turned into a mano-a-mano showdown between two of the game’s brightest and best players battling it out to see who will be the last man standing.
Patrick Reed versus Rory McIlroy headlines a Masters Sunday in a showdown that truly represents what the 2018 Masters is all about: the passing of the torch from one era to the next. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, the focus of attention for much of the week, will play in the early groups on Sunday, and when they’re done maybe they can share some popcorn and watch the fireworks. This Masters Sunday is about the rivalries that are building today and not those of the past. Sit back and enjoy.
You couldn’t ask for more drama. McIlroy might be three shots back, but the pick here is the brash Irishman will prevail and complete a career grand slam, though it figures to be a fight to the finish at Augusta National.
Reed might have been the hero at Hazeltine two years ago when he won a singles match, 1-up, that led to an American victory, but McIlroy has been waiting for this moment since the 2011 Masters when he blew a lead on the back nine.
His birdie on the 18th hole Saturday filled McIlroy with fist-pumping momentum, and he wasted no time with a form of gamesmanship by reminding Reed he has a threeshot lead, saying, “I feel like all the pressure is on him.”
With all the focus on Woods playing in his first Masters since 2015, he overshadowed just how competitive the PGA Tour has become in his absence. It’ isn’t Woods and everyone else anymore, it’s everyone else and Woods sometimes. On Sunday golf fight. ’s Expect version it’s Reed both of players versus a heavyweight to McIlroy, be brilliant.
Reed, 27, looked like Woods in ’97 on Saturday the way he owned Augusta National, collecting four birdies and two eagles to post a 5-under 67 that left him 14-under entering the final round.
In addition to McIlroy, who is 11under, Reed is being chased by his contemporaries — including Rickie Fowler, who at 9-under is the best known golfer never to have won a major; and Jon Rahm, the 23-yearold Spaniard who is 8-under playing in only his second Masters. Though they are the only ones with any real chance to catch Reed, Justin Dustin day Reed before and others Thomas, Johnson McIlroy. being such all Jordan as flashed left Bubba Spieth behind on Watson, Satur- and by at What Augusta has happened National over tells 54 us holes this: Where we once waited for one man to provide magical moments with his incredible skills, there are a number of players in today’s game capable of creating their own highlights. We saw plenty of that at Augusta National on Saturday. McIlroy chipped in for eagle at the par-5 eighth hole to grab a share of the lead at 9-under. Reed then answered with three straight birdies at the eighth, ninth and 10th to take a three-shot lead to Amen Cor-ner. Meanwhile, there was England’s Tommy Fleetwood rolling five straight birdies on the back nine to shot 66 and get to 6-under, while Rahm posted birdies at 16 and 17 to get within striking distance at 8-under. Fowler shot a wicked-low 65 during a bogey-free round to get to 9-under.
Reed, however, wasn’t done showing off. He reached the par-5 13th with two perfect shots then drained an 18-footer for eagle. Then he chipped in for eagle from behind that bunker at the par-5 15th to get to 15-under. A three-putt for bogey at the 16 showed he was human.
McIlroy can’t wait for Sunday. A fist-pumping 20-footer for birdie on the 18th gives the Irishman momentum to duel with Reed the way they did at the Ryder Cup two years ago. This time the green jacket will be on the line.
Golf’s new era takes center stage. Sit back and enjoy.