I WANT TO BE WORLD No.1
his team-mates in the locker room, the stigma follows him to this day.
Former Georgia teammates Russell Henley, Harris English, Hudson Swafford and Brian Harman – all of whom are now his peers on the PGA Tour – don’t speak publicly about the details of that spell around 2008.
But even now there’s a private joke among certain players that when Reed walks into a locker room they say: “Hide your things. Patrick’s here.”
What an atmosphere that must be for a guy going into his work in the morning but all accounts about Reed’s brash nature would suggest he couldn’t care less. He’s used to conflict.
Estranged from his parents and sister Hannah since 2011, it’s ironic he should rack up a career-defining success in their home town of Augusta without them on the premises to see it.
No surprise considering his wife Justine had security remove them from the US Open in 2014.
But again why should a turbulent personal life affect the way American fans react towards a home-grown Major champion?
After all, just look at the love still given to Tiger Woods despite the scandals and an even more overtly aloof nature that has only recently showed signs of thawing.
Maybe it’s because the late charges of Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler offered the fans hope of a more popular, fashionable, clean cut and – let’s face it – better looking alternative success story to the loudmouth fat kid.
Whatever the reason for his unpopularity the fact is Reed is here to stay because I’d wager this first Major will not be his last. The gutsy PATRICK REED has set his sights on becoming world No.1 after his Masters triumph.
Reed, 27, claimed he was one of the world’s top-five players after winning his third PGA Tour title in 2014.
He arrived at Augusta ranked 24th but has moved up to 11th – and plans to go to the very top.
Reed said: “I don’t ever regret anything I really say. I stand by my comments. I feel like I’ve played some golf I need to play in order to get to where I want to be and that’s to be the best golfer in the world.
“The way you’re going to do that is perform in these big events and to win them.
“I’m just happy to be able to say I’ve gotten over that hump of not winning at all last year. Coming into the year one of my biggest goals was to win a Major.
“To be able to get them both at once, to end the drought and win a Major, it helps me mentally and also helps my
resume.” manner in which he saw off McIlroy then held off that star-studded chasing pack on the back nine will only have expanded a self-belief infamously swelled to bursting point. At 27 he’ll build on this whether his peers like it or not. That’s an ominous prospect for European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn as he stares at a leaderboard with three Americans at the top. Added to the stat is all four Major titles now rest in the clutches of Uncle Sam.