Yeah, he’s back.
Like it or not, Patrick Reed is a winner again on the PGA Tour.
He picked a great time to find his form.
A mistake-free final nine holes Sunday at Liberty National earned him the Northern Trust title for a second time, this time, had to be really sweet, considering.
Reed hasn’t tasted victory since the 2018 Masters and it was back then when the golf world learned of his troubled relationship with his parents and his lack of love from fans everywhere.
“He plays with a chip on his shoulder,” is what the television talking heads say time and again when they refer to Reed. What that phrase really means is that he’s aloof and is not well-liked.
Seriously, no one missed him this season while he struggled with his game. And it was a struggle. At one point, wife Justine, who obviously wears the pants in the family, called guru David Leadbetter for help.
Lord Lead couldn’t help and that brief look-see was pretty much that — a short look-see. Thanks Justine.
Reed struggled all summer. Coming into Liberty National, he had two top 10s. He was miserable in the majors — T36 at The Masters, missed the cut at the PGA, T32 at the U.S. Open. He showed some life at Royal Portrush and finished 10th at the Open Championship. He played decent in Memphis (T12).
He finally found the formula at Liberty National, his stomping grounds during the 2017 Presidents Cup.
“It’s amazing, just to be back and to feel like I’ve been playing some solid golf and finally having it pay off and to come out as a victory, it’s been a while,” Reed said after his two-putt par at 18 for a 69 and the winning 15-under score. “Been a little too long honestly but what better place to do it than here.”
Reed wasn’t emotional, no tears, no nothing. “Really, it’s just the beginning,” he continued. “It’s the first playoff event. So you know, the good thing was I felt like I’ve been playing well all year. To come out and get the W this week and climb up the board quickly and get up to second, now just go out, rest up tomorrow and start playing aggressive again and try to get up there as high as I can going into East Lake.”
Reed is now second behind Brooks Koepka on the FedEx reshuffle.
He’s there because he knew what to expect on the closing holes at Liberty National.
“I think the biggest thing was, you know, especially coming down towards the end, knowing that birdies are out here, people are going to be able to make birdies and so you’re going to have to go out and finish it off and make some birdies coming in.”
He did, Jon Rahm didn’t.
As much as Reed won it, Rahm lost it.
“I’m still obviously a little hurt, a little disappointed the way I finished,” said Rahm, who had the lead but came unglued with three back nine bogeys, including back-to-back at 14 and 15. “I was playing so good up until 14 and kind of the theme of the last three days, 15 through 18, I just haven’t been able to finish it off. It’s as simple as that. You know, I’m going to be two shots short.
“I mean, you can pick two shots any time in the tournament. It’s easy to focus only on today, but it’s a couple things. I mean, the driver on 15, where I thought it was good, and it just didn’t fade back. The driver on 17, it was like, two of them a foot from being a perfect location, right. So that’s two shots right there that could have given me a better chance. It’s just what it is. It’s golf. I gave myself a great chance. I had a lot of fun and towards the end, I just couldn’t make the putts or I couldn’t get it done. It’s how it is,” Rahm continued.
“Patrick held it together, even though he wasn’t probably playing his best golf at first, and came back with a great birdie on 15, or 14, one of the two, and the birdie on 16 to take a two-shot lead. Well deserved, he’s been playing great all tournament. He hasn’t made many bogeys, not many mistakes. That shows.”
It’s a fine line between winning and losing on tour and Reed finally got back on the winning side of that line.
Like it or not, he’s back.
At least for now.
15 Comments
RM
These tidbits are always interesting. Jon Rahm, underneath the occasional displays of temper, seems to me like another decent guy with a pretty solid perspective. I thought Reed was okay based on his Feherty interview and his duel in the Ryder Cup with Rory.
juande
You should refer to your last week post, and the fate of the hungry young men you picked up for doing well at the tournament. Also, and perhaps for once, you could pay attention to the youngest player on tour, Joaquin Niemann (who certainly did much better and managed to qualify for the next tournament )… but, of course, the problem is that he is not North American and neither did he study in the US, so he is very seldom shown or talked about.
Tom Edrington
Very, very familiar with Joaquin, we’ve written about him in the past. He was going to come and play here for the University of South Florida golf team (here in Tampa) but opted to turn pro. The kid has mad skills and will become a bigger factor with time and experience.
baxter cepeda
Everyone knows him. But at some point you gotta do a little more than get thru.
abigbluedevilfan
Nice headline, you A$$hat.
We want golf news not your personal feelings about Reed.
I have no particular personal feelings either way about Patrick, however I do respect his golf and his being his own man and not some sniveling a$$ kisser nor does he whine about paper cuts pr hangnails or copping out when he is playing poorly. .,
Why do you hacks feel the need to fuel the flames of angst against Reed?
You irrelevants are simply jealous because of his standing on the tour and his fiery way of play along with is love for his country and his respect for his flag.
Crawl back under your libt#rd rock and spare us your mindless bashing of one of the tours top players. .
Tom Edrington
Thanks for checking in with us. I think it’s obvious from your composing skills that you did not attend Duke University. Like it or not, Patrick Reed is one of the least-liked players on the PGA Tour, you’ve probably forgotten about his behavior following the last Ryder Cup when he threw everyone under the bus, including the great Tiger Woods.
baxter cepeda
Told Tom Reed has some fans.
JimmyD5cc
Reed seems to be his own enemy, picking fights, arguments with the Ryder Cup Captain, calling out .Spieth etc. However, the guy can play and well deserved this win.
Tom Edrington
You got it right Jimmy, unlike the bigbluedevilfan……..Yes, Reed was a very poor teammate at the Ryder Cup and even threw Tiger Woods under the bus.
baxter cepeda
A. I like it.
B. It’s not just for now.
C. Patrick, people like you.
Like it or not it’s more of an anomaly for Patrick Reed to struggle than it is for him to win.
Reed is funner than most, not just because of the polarizing personality. Reed is simply one of the best shot makers in golf.
The way he moves the ball both ways, his sublime short game, and some of the special putts he makes are all special imo.
Yes he has some family issues, his wife’s role not one of them, And yes Even some team issues from college.
Still, Reed is quietly more appreciated with many golf fans than someone may lead readers to believe.
The guy entertains with a little rebelliousness without crossing any lines. Players do like Patrick, even Jordan. Tiger likes him.
The top 5 comment or the carrying Jordan comment, or even the second guessing strategy in France have all added flavor to golf without crossing any serious lines…such as urinating on an airplane (still processing that alleged news).
As a columnist even Tom has to appreciate Reeds ability to provide interesting click-bate material.
Tom Edrington
Baxter: Reed lost me with his behavior following the Ryder Cup. Even threw Tiger Woods under the bus. I see at least he quit wearing red and black on Sundays…I think Tiger told him to quit that….
baxter cepeda
Reed was right.
When Tiger didn’t show up in France; Reed and Jordan should have rekindled their fire; while JT maybe lit a fire under tiger or JT could have played with almost anyone.
Reed was speaking his mind. And nowhere near as harsh as what Phil did to Tom, but even that was needed.
Tiger and Reed practice rounded last week so clearly their cool.
Reed is not the least popular player at all. Theres a ton of journeymen no one cares about.
Reed is more than popular, he is polarizing. He is one of those love them or hate them guys who make things interesting.
Tom Edrington
True Baxter, every drama needs a villain and Reed fits that bill quite nicely as far as I’m concerned!
tc1942
I think from the beginning of Reeds PGA career, I thought he had something which showed then and since. Somehow he sends it down the middle and on to the green and putts with authority. I’m a golf teacher and use to be a coach for a local HS, for free BTW. I’m an engineer by trade and I have had my own business since 1985, longer than most of these on tour. I’m 77 now and still do what I can. I’ve got arthritus pretty bad and a screwy heart condition so I’ve developed some easy steps to still play the game. I could help Phil and anyone with arthritus with a different grip, stance and a few other ideas. I teach the natural golf, something we have lost over the years and have developed problems with the body ever since. I blame Tiger’s problem on his instructers, not on the game. he can never go back but I think he can still win some and scare the s— out of the rest of em when he is on. Phil is the master though, with trick shots and his degree in Psych doesn’t hurt, but if you look at him, the days he is rubbing his hands tells you everything. i can fix that.. At one time i was a scratch golfer and my best game was a 64, 4 birdies and 2 eagles, all the rest pars. Just a good day.
Getting back to Reed? He will win a lot more and maybe some more majors. He is as steady as Jack. 50 years ago, I would not have wanted to play against him. His only failure sometimes, but not very often is not following through and that’s his only weakness. Perhaps he should change grips? Get more comfortable. I didn’t like the comments about his personality. I think he goes overboard to try to be helpful. Love his quiet please.
Thomas J Coyne
Ocean Park, WA
Tom Edrington
Thomas: Nice to see a man who totally loves the game; Problem is there are a lot of players on tour who don’t love the game; As for Reed, he lost me following his sore loser mentality following the Ryder Cup, threw everyone under the bus including Tiger Woods;