Reed moves three clear as McIlroy lurks
AUGUSTA, Georgia: Patrick Reed used a pair of backnine eagles to fight off a spirited charge from Rory McIlroy yesterday and open up a threeshot cushion going into the final round of the Masters, when he will try to capture his first major title.
Reed, who began the day with a twoshot lead, took full advantage of a damp Augusta National layout with a 5under 67 that left him on 14under for the week and staring down a leaderboard filled with some of the biggest names in golf.
The former Augusta State University standout has never before held the 54hole lead in a major championship but remains adamant he is not about to change anything at this point.
‘‘Mentally, I’m just treating it like any other golf tournament, any other round,’’ Reed said. ‘‘Just go out and do what I know how to do, which is hit the ball somewhat straight, knock it on the green and let the putter work.’’
A fivetime winner on the PGA Tour, Reed has dominated the par5s — 13under for the week — but kicked it up a notch late in the round with eagles at the 13th and 15th holes, the latter when he chipped in from 24.7m.
The 27yearold American, competing in his fifth Masters, had never broken 70 at Augusta National before this week but has been nearly untouchable and his threeround total is only four shots off the tournament’s recordwinning score.
Northern Irishman McIlroy sat alone in second place after he capped his 7under 65 with a 5.6m birdie putt and will have his best shot yet at trying to complete his collection of golf’s four major titles.
McIlroy had already made three birdies before a chipin eagle at the eighth and then scrambled to save par after his ball found the azaleas behind the 13th green. He added two more birdies, including his emphatic putt on the final green.
McIlroy, who threw away a fourshot lead in the final round at Augusta in 2011 when he was still chasing a maiden major, has since captured wins at each of golf’s three other blue riband events and is closer than ever to completing his collection.
‘‘I feel like all aspects of my game are in really good shape, and I’m much more relaxed,’’ McIlroy said.
‘‘This isn’t my first time in this position now. I’ve been able to close the deal a few times before this, and I have that to fall back on tomorrow.’’
The fourtime major winner will play alongside Reed in the final round when the two will renew their duel from the 2016 Ryder Cup when they traded birdies in a scintillating stretch of oneupmanship that was soon deemed a classic.
Rickie Fowler, considered one of the world’s best players without a major title to his name, equalled McIlroy for the low round of the week with a 7under 65 that left him alone in third place, five behind Reed.
Spaniard Jon Rahm (65) eagled the par5 eighth during a flawless round that also included five birdies to sit alone in fourth place, six shots off the lead, and one shot clear of Swede Henrik Stenson (70).
Sitting a further shot back were twice winner Bubba Watson (68), Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (66) and Australian Marc Leishman (73).
Tiger Woods, who began the day 13 shots behind Reed, failed to mount any sort of charge. The American opened with two bogeys en route to an evenpar 72 that ended any slim hopes he may have had of slipping on the green jacket for a fifth time today.
The former world No 1 came into the week as one of the favourites after showing solid form this year in his comeback from injury but failed to conjure up any of the old magic he once seemed to produce on command at Augusta National. — Reuters