Reed tops Race to Dubai with WGC-Mexico C’ship victory

DUBAI: Patrick Reed shot to the summit of the European Tour’s Race to Dubai after capturing a second Wgc-mexico Championship title with a gutsy closing 67 to win by one stroke at Chapultepec Golf Club.

The American star started the final day a shot off the lead and, after an opening birdie, made ten pars in a row as the world class field battled to win the first World Golf Championships event of 2020. The 2018 Masters Tournament champion looked to be in trouble on the last when his tee shot went a long way right, but Reed kept his composure and a closing bogey saw him finish a shot ahead of former Omega Dubai Desert Classic champion Bryson Dechambeau.

“To come back and win my second World Golf Championship, especially with how I had to finish from basically 15 onwards - the last hole was ugly but it was what I needed just to get the job done,” said Reed, who collects 1500 Race to Dubai points to enter the Race to Dubai in first place.

“I think the biggest thing is every time I feel like I go to the golf course, anytime I go out and work with my coach, anytime I’m at home, I always feel like I have something to prove. Not to anyone else but to myself, that I can continue to improve on and off the golf course and continue to do the unthinkable and pull off hard shots, make putts when I need to make them, just do the little things.

“And I think because of that, it just has built up so much confidence with how I’ve played so far in my career with putting myself in these positions, I feel like I have a chance to continue and to have a chance to win these golf tournaments. The confidence is through the roof.” South African Erik Van Rooyen and defending Race to Dubai champion Jon Rahm finished three shots back to share third in Naucalpan. Both players pick up 507.5 points which moves Van Rooyen up to sixth from 37th while Rahm enters the race in 13th.

World Number One Rory Mcilroy finished a shot further back to finish solo fifth which sees the Northern Irishman enter the Race to Dubai in 17th on 381 points. Hatton also got his campaign off to a good start with a tied sixth which leaves the Englishman in 28th on 281 points.