Reed Ryder rant led to Tiger talk
NASSAU, Bahamas — Patrick Reed was putting the finishing touches on his opening-round 7-under-par 65 to seize a share of the lead in the Hero World Challenge on Thursday at Albany Golf Club when the tournament host, Tiger Woods, was delivering a revelation in relation to Reed.
It’s been a little more than two months since the U.S. Ryder Cup team was crushed by Europe in France. After it was over, Reed criticized American captain Jim Furyk and teammate Jordan Spieth for him and Spieth not being paired together, as they had been in previous team competitions.
And in the process, Reed’s comments implied Woods, one of the two greatest players ever to play the game, was a mere consolation prize as a playing partner.
So on Thursday, Woods was asked for the first time since the Ryder Cup what his reaction was to Reed’s post-Ryder Cup rants.
“Yeah, we spoke after the Ryder Cup for a long period of time and, you know, we talked amongst us and it will stay between us,’’ Woods said.
Asked if he was “disappointed’’ Reed felt slighted by having to be paired with him for two matches instead of Spieth, Woods said, “Well, some of the things that ... as I’ve said ... it’s between us and we’ll be handling it between us.’’
A short time later, Reed downplayed any rift with Woods.
“You know, I mean, I don’t think anything needs to be resolved,’’ Reed said. “I mean, I’ve seen all the guys and, you know, we’ve talked to all the guys and, you know, we’ve all moved past that.
“We’re plenty of weeks beyond the Ryder Cup. Now all of us are just trying to continue trying to finish off the whole year right and just trying to get ready for next season, trying to get ready for offseason, and just trying to get ready for two more years when hopefully we can get payback.’’
Asked about his talk with Woods, Reed said, “I mean, whatever I talk about with other players and other guys, you know, stays between the guys.’’
Asked if it was Woods who initiated the conversation, Reed said, “We were just kind of BSing and talking. It’s one of the things that competitors do. We always talk, whether it’s before rounds, after rounds, on the weeks off just trying to see how everyone’s doing, seeing how the kids are doing, just kind of small talk.’’
Reed saying he’s spoken with all the players contradicts what he told The Post on Wednesday when he said he hadn’t spoken to Spieth, whom he ripped for not wanting to be paired with him in the Ryder Cup. Also, Justin Thomas, who was paired with Spieth, told The Post he hadn’t spoken with Reed.
Reed and co-leader Patrick Cantlay played amazing golf Thursday to take a share of the lead, three shots clear of Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson, who both shot 68. Bubba Watson and Alex Noren are four shots back at 3-under.
Woods, who carded a triple bogey on No. 12 to fall to 3-over at the time, scratched his way back to 1-over for the day and is eight shots out of the lead.