Approach remains the same for Reed

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — So maybe there wasn’t the fanfare surrounding Patrick Reed compared to past Masters champions.

After the first few weeks following the year’s first major, the public didn’t see Reed wearing the Green Jacket everywhere he went — like Sergio Garcia did for the entire 12 months he was the reigning champion. But maybe that’s how Reed rolls: enjoy the fanfare to a certain extent, then get down to business.

And business is what he is attending to this week as he embarks on his first U.S. Open as a major champion at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, followed by the Travelers Championship next week at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell.

“It’s been a whirlwind for sure, but it’s been so much fun, and, you know, it’s just been awesome to be able to reflect on,” Reed said. “To be able to win the first one of the year and to become Masters champion, it feels great. But, you know, we can’t wait to get back out to work and hopefully have a good week here and have a chance come late Sunday.”

Reed, 27, has put limited work in since winning the Masters, playing just four tournaments. But two of those were top-10 finishes: a tie for seventh place at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans (team best-ball event) and solo eighth at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Last year, Reed played six tournaments in between the Masters and the U.S. Open. But he did say there hasn’t been much of a difference as far as time taken away from the course and practice.

“I wouldn’t say there’s more nos (to requests) as there is just we figured out

how to get it where, instead of saying no, it’s like, ‘Okay, guys, like I’m going to practice now, and then I’ll do interviews after I get done playing.’ Or I’ll practice now, talk after. Or I’ll do it before practice,” Reed said. “That’s kind of how it’s always been. You know, when I go to the golf course, I get inside the ropes, I put my headphones on, it’s time to work.

“Once the headphones come out and I’m done with practice, then I have no problem giving time to everybody because I enjoy giving the time and talking to everybody. It’s just as long as I’m able to get the work done while I’m inside the ropes, then after that it’s still the same. I mean, nothing has changed before winning Augusta, compared to afterwards.”

But Reed did say he is recognized a lot more than he used to be.

“In Houston, I used to be able to just walk around our hometown in my normal golf clothes all logo’d up, and you might get one or two people to say hello,” Reed said. “Now, if I go in jeans and no golf whatsoever on, everyone still seems to recognize you and kind of come up. And so that was probably the biggest thing that I didn’t quite expect.”

The Masters was Reed’s sixth victory on the PGA Tour. He is seventh in the FedExCup standings and is ranked 13th in the world.

Reed’s best finish at the Travelers was fifth last year. Next week will be his seventh straight appearance at TPC River Highlands, and he is the last of four straight major championship winners expected to compete: Brooks Koepka (2017 U.S. Open), Jordan Spieth (2017 Open Championship and Travelers defending champion) and Justin Thomas (2017 PGA) being the first three.

Reed has been practicing at Shinnecock for over a week Thursday morning in preparation for the Open that began, learning all the nuances the course has.

“Even though it’s a long golf course, you have to be able to work the ball both ways. You have to be able to flight the ball depending on wind. So any little detail of

your golf game that’s not on is going to be exposed,” Reed said. “And I feel like it’s a complete golf course, a complete place, and you just need to be sharp in all aspects.”

Reed shot a 3-over-par 73 in Thursday’s opening round on a very windy day at Shinnecock GC.

“I mean, honestly felt like it was probably the worst round I could have shot with how today went. I need to clean it up and get my act together, start playing golf.” Reed said.

Reed has represented the United States on two Ryder Cup teams, one Presidents Cup team and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Warren Little / Getty Images Patrick Reed tees off on the sixth hole during the first round of the U.S. Open on Thursday.