Reed ends title drought at US PGA Northern Trust

PATRICK Reed fired a two-under par 69 on Su nday to w i n t he US PGA Tour Northern Trust tournament, his f i rst v ictor y si nce his 2018 Masters triumph.

Reed’s overnight lead at Liberty National in Jersey City, New Jersey, evaporated with back-to-back bogeys at the second and third holes.

But two back-nine birdies, at the 14th and 16th, were enough to lift the American to a seventh career title on 16-under 268 – one stroke in front of Mexico’s Abraham Ancer.

“It’s amazing,” Reed said. “Just to be back here and be playing some solid golf and finally have it paying off.

“It’s been awhile,” he added. “It’s been a little too long, honestly.”

Reed was part of the US Presidents Cup team that triumphed at Liberty National in 2017.

Fans at the course in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty welcomed him back with enthusiasm.

“Hearing ‘Captain America’ and ‘USA’ all week – it was a great time to get a W,” Reed said.

Spain’s Jon Rahm surged to the top of the leaderboard with three birdies in four holes on the front nine.

Birdies at 12 and 13 moved Rahm to 16-under, but he faded with bogeys at the 14th and 15th.

Reed, even for the day after three birdies and three bogeys on the front nine, rolled in an eight-footer at the 14th before draining a 10-footer to save par at 15, where he missed the green and pitched on.

He stuck his shor t approach shot four feet from t he pin at 16 and rolled t hat in to give himself a t wo-stroke cushion.

The v ictor y i n t he f i r st of t h ree events in t he US tou r’s FedEx Cup playoffs moved Reed to second in the playoff standings going into the BMW Championship.

That means Reed, who was struggling enough less than three months ago that he took several weeks off to work on his game, is in prime position to challenge for the $15 million playoff purse that will be on offer at the season-ending Tour Championship.

Ancer closed with a two-under par 69 for 269. Rahm carded a 69 to share third on 270 with American Harold Varner, who signed for a 68.

Ancer’s performance – his best f inish on t he PGA Tour bumped him from 67t h in t he playoff standings to eighth. He’s certain to make the Tour Championship.

“When I finished, I was a little down because I didn’t get it done and I feel like I played good,” Ancer said. “But t hen get t i ng a l l t his news t hat I’m goi ng to t he Tou r Cha mpionsh ip, play ing a ll t he majors, going to Masters, a l l t hat, I was li ke: ‘Man, t his is not too bad.’”

Australian Adam Scott finished alone in fifth on 271, climbing up the leaderboard with a six-under 65.