Patrick Reed was excited to be the man going with Tiger Woods on day one of the Hero World Challenge on Thursday.
“It’s going to be awesome. I’m looking forward to it, Yeah, I still want to beat him,” Reed said beforehand.
As round one progressed, Woods was totally schooling Reed, one of the heroes of the Ryder Cup victory for the U.S. Woods was three-under through nine holes, despite a bogey at the par five ninth and the best Reed could do was even par 36 on Albany’s front nine.
Reed found trouble off the tee at the par three 12th and a well placed microphone caught a quick expletive from Reed: “Sh– …. that’s in the water,” Reed blurted as soon as he hit his tee shot and realized it was left and wet. He would make double-bogey and fall to two-over par, four behind Woods who seemingly had things going his way.
But it wouldn’t last.
Reed would go on to birdie three of his last five holes, including a closing birdie at the 18th that made up three shots on Woods.
Final tally: Reed 72, Woods 73.
On a course that was yielding dozens of birdies, not quite what either player was looking for.
Still, as Woods pointed out, they still have three days to go.
