Reed’s defense of Masters title starts early
AUGUSTA, GA. » Patrick Reed won’t have to wait until next April to defend his title in the Masters.
Even as he slipped into a green jacket, he was perceived more as a villain than a victor.
The loudest cheer from the first tee at Augusta National was for Rory McIlroy, who played with Reed in the final round. The loudest cheer on the 18th green was for Rickie Fowler, who finished ahead of Reed.
The mood all afternoon screamed out, “Anyone but Patrick.”
Reed had the last shot, a 3-foot par putt for a oneshot victory and his first major championship.
All he did was play a brand of golf that champions from any era would embrace.
He seized control on Saturday with two eagles on the back nine, the second a 3-wood from just under 270 yards into the wet, heavy air that barely cleared the water in front of the 15th green. From there, he chipped in from 80 feet. And on Sunday, he heard the cheers ahead of him for Jordan Spieth and answered with a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 12 and an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 14.
That’s how you win majors and earn respect.
The applause, however, sounded more like acceptance than celebration. Instead of looking ahead to how much more this Masters champion might achieve, the inclination was to look into the past of a flawed character in a green jacket.
Reed wasn’t anyone’s favorite Sunday outside of his immediately family, and that includes parents with whom he has had no contact for more than five years. They live a few miles
Masters champion Patrick Reed is aided by former champion Sergio Garcia as he puts on the green jacket after winning the Masters golf tournament Sunday in Augusta, Ga.
from Augusta National.
That’s not unusual at the Masters.
Danny Willett wasn’t the patron’s choice in 2016 when he took advantage of Spieth’s misfortunes at the 12th hole. Charles Coody played the best golf in 1971 when the Masters could have had Jack Nicklaus or 23-year-old Johnny Miller.
Even without a checkered past at two colleges — Georgia and Augusta State — or Reed’s brash claim after his third PGA Tour victory that he considered himself among the top five players in golf, the role of villain fit as snugly as that green jacket.
There was McIlroy — honest, refreshing, talented — who already had paid his dues at Augusta National with that finalround 80 in 2011 and now lacked only this major to complete the career Grand Slam. It wasn’t Reed’s fault that McIlroy couldn’t buy a putt.
Then it was Spieth, who says and does all the right things off the course, making a Sunday charge that even Nicklaus could appreciate. He was one swing away from the lowest final round and perhaps the greatest comeback in Masters history. His tee shot was too far left and hit a tree limb.
And finally it was Fowler’s turn. If he isn’t the best player never to have won a major, he is the most popular player without a major by a wide margin. Fowler hit all the right shots, especially on the 18th hole for a birdie that gave the gallery hope and left Reed no room for a mistake.
Reed loves a moment like this.
He had it all, except the affection that appears to be harder to find than the wide fairways of Augusta National.
Reed didn’t care when someone asked Saturday night why fans don’t embrace him. “Why don’t you ask them?” he said. “I’m out here to do my job, and that’s to play golf. I feel like if I’m doing it the right way, then that’s all that really matters.”
Reed is part of the youth movement, primarily because of his age (27). The consummate team player can be a bit of a loner. He does his work quietly on the range, rarely without his wife along for observations. He doesn’t have regular partners for practice.
You won’t find him on any social media channels during spring break in the Bahamas. He wears boots, not flip-flops. And yes, he has flaws. He inevitably has let people down, even if he was never a hero to legions of fans.
There were plenty of American fans cheering for him at Hazeltine in 2016 when he matched McIlroy shot for shot and at one point wagged his finger at him. That finger was pressed against the lips when he had the audacity to shush a Scottish crowd during Ryder Cup debut in Gleneagles.
Top 5 in the world? Maybe at annoying people.
“He’s a member of the Masters Club now. He’ll have a green jacket forever,” Spieth said. “His name is etched in history, and I’m sure he’s going to carry everything that he went through today and go into Paris and try and win a Ryder Cup on European soil.”
They love him in red, white and blue.
Perhaps one of these days, they’ll come to embrace him in green.
Kansas, N.C. State mentioned in NCAA case
NEW YORK » Kansas and North Carolina State are the latest schools to be swept up in a bribery scandal involving college basketball.
A rewritten federal indictment released Tuesday in New York alleges that an Adidas officials paid parents of athletes willing to commit to the schools.
Prosecutors say an Adidas representative agreed to pay $90,000 to the family of a Kansas recruit and $40,000 to a recruit at North Carolina State.
Prosecutors say money helped secure the players’ commitments to play college basketball at the schools and ensured the North Carolina State recruit signed an Adidas sponsorship deal when he entered the NBA. He entered the draft last June.
In the Kansas case, the student-athlete made a surprise announcement last August to attend the school.
Cubs place Rizzo on DL with back tightness
CHICAGO » The Chicago Cubs are taking the safe route with Anthony Rizzo, placing the first baseman on the 10-day disabled list with lower back tightness.
Rizzo hasn’t played since he went 0 for 5 in Thursday’s 8-0 win at Milwaukee. The 28-year-old slugger is a key part of Chicago’s lineup, hitting 32 homers and driving in 109 runs in each of the past two years.
“It stinks, especially not being able to play the home opener,” Rizzo said before the Cubs’ 8-5 loss to the Pirates. “But it’s a long season. It’s a marathon. You got to stay smart and that’s what we’re doing.”
Rizzo said he is feeling better and hopes to be ready when he is eligible to come off the DL on Monday. The move was made retroactive to Friday.
Bills guard Richie Incognito says he’s retiring
BUFFALO, N.Y. » Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Richie Incognito texts The Associated Press he’s “done,” amid reports he is considering retirement after 11 NFL seasons.
Incognito followed up the text on Tuesday with a laughing-face emoji and did not respond to further questions seeking clarification.
The text came shortly after SportsIllustrated.com reported Incognito was “strongly considering retiring,” but would consider returning for one more season at the right price.
The Buffalo News quoted Incognito as saying, “I’m done. That’s it.” Incognito added he is experiencing liver and kidney problems and is being affected by stress.
Monster Energy, NASCAR extend through ‘19
CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Monster Energy will remain the title sponsor of NASCAR’s top Cup Series through 2019 in an extension announced Tuesday.
Monster is not expected to be back after next year as NASCAR will re-evaluate how it sells its sponsorship. The Monster contract with NASCAR is estimated to be worth $20 million annually.
The energy drink company signed a two-year deal in late 2016. The initial contract was an instant success for Monster, which saw Kurt Busch drive a car sponsored by Monster Energy to victory in the Daytona 500.
The brand is a strong fit for NASCAR as the series tries to energize its fan base and appeal to a younger demographic.