Reed builds 3-shot lead
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The only thunder was on the ground, not in the sky, a series of ear-splitting roars for Patrick Reed and his two eagles, Rory McIlroy and his final birdie, and everyone else who tried desperately to keep up with them in the Masters.
“The roars ... it’s hard not to know what’s going on,” McIlroy said.
By the end of a wet and wild Saturday at Augusta National, Reed helped bring this Masters into focus.
Reed seized control with a pair of eagles on the back nine, two big pars and a 5-under 67 that gave him a three-shot lead over McIlroy as he goes for his first major in the city where he led undermanned Augusta State to two NCAA titles.
His primary challenger is McIlroy, in the final group at the Masters for the first time in seven years, this time with a shot at the career Grand Slam.
This time it’s for a green jacket, not a gold Ryder Cup trophy.
This is for themselves, not for team.
Reed and McIlroy are indelibly linked to that Ryder Cup singles match at Hazeltine some 18 months ago when they traded big putts and uppercuts until Reed prevailed on the 18th hole.
“It won’t be quite as intense as that Ryder Cup match, I don’t think,” McIlroy said, alluding to the partisan and at times rude nature of cheers rarely found at Augusta National.
“I think we’ll still be feeling it. It’s the latest round of a major championship. Patrick is going for his first major. And I’m going for ... something else.”
He paused and smiled upon hearing a few chuckles.
That “something else” is something grand. At stake for the McIlroy is the final leg of the career Grand Slam, achieved by only five other players, and completed only once before at the Masters by Gene Sarazen in 1935. “It’s going to be good