Reed wins by 5 shots in Farmers Insurance Open

SAN DIEGO – No matter what Patrick Reed barrels into – bitter temperatures, sideways rain, tricky winds and even hail – he embraces the noise around him.

And in America's Finest City it didn't matter if he had to deal with being the eye of a storm of controversy he himself created.

Reed overcame all that in a turbulent week at seaside Torrey Pines and captured the Farmers Insurance Open on Sunday by four shots.

Less than 24 hours after another rules incident involving Reed ignited a firestorm of criticism in social media circles, he stiff- armed the few pursuers on the South Course on the back nine and signed for a 4- under- par 68 to be finish at 14 under and well clear of runners- up Tony Finau, Viktor Hovland, Henrik Norlander, Ryan Palmer and Xander Schauffele.

On an overcast day when four people had at least a share of the lead in the early stages of the final round, Reed, who was tied with Carlos Ortiz after 54 holes, held firm on the back nine while others faltered and won for the ninth time on the PGA Tour. The 2018 Masters champion had an eagle and two birdies in four holes before the turn and made eight pars and birdied his last hole to polish off his victory.

“I think the basic thing is you have to have resilience, especially when you're out here because golf ' s hard as it is and you come to a place like this where it's so demanding not just off the tees, it doesn't matter if it's a drive, an iron shot, a wedge shot, putt, you have to be all locked in 24/ 7,” said Reed, who moves to No. 10 in the official world golf rankings.

“Whether they're getting good breaks or bad breaks, you have to really figure out a way to get the job done, to really just drive in and to keep on improving each shot each day. That's golf, that's what you're supposed to do. That's why I love the game. It throws punches at you; you throw punches at it; and at the end of the day hopefully you're the one standing.”

Reed said his eagle from 45 feet on the sixth ignited his final round Sunday and his clutch par saves from off the green on the 11th, 14th and 15th were vital.