Patrick Reed kept his composure en route to a third round 67 to head into Sunday with a three shot lead over Ryder Cup foe Rory McIlroy.
There is more than a Green Jacket at stake on Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the 82nd Masters Tournament.
History is in the offing.
Somebody will edge across the line to join some of golf’s richest lineage, forever rubbing shoulders with names such as Snead, Hogan, Palmer, Player, Nicklaus and Woods to become a permanent fixture in Masters lore.
Could it be Patrick Reed’s time?
Through three rounds, the former Augusta University standout has been uncatchable, and with each day, he appears to be a stronger version of himself. Saturday’s 5-under 67 wasn’t his lowest score, but considering his position, it was quite good, his third consecutive round in the 60s (he opened 69-66) after four years of having never broken 70.
Reed heads into Sunday at 14-under 202, only two shots off Jordan Spieth’s record-setting pace (200) of three years ago. He holds a three-shot lead over his spirited Ryder Cup foe Rory McIlroy and a five-shot cushion over Rickie Fowler. Reed and McIlroy will play in Sunday’s last pairing, an encore of their rousing singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, which Reed captured 1-up.
‘Patrick has a three-shot lead, and all the pressure is on him,’ McIlroy said. ‘I feel I can go out and play as if I have nothing to lose. But this isn’t a two-horse race.’
Reed will try to become the fourth consecutive first-time major winner at Augusta National, joining Jordan Spieth (2015), Danny Willett (2016) and Sergio Garcia (2017). He also could become the first player in Masters history to shoot all four rounds in the 60s. He is the 13th player in history to have his first three Masters rounds in the 60s.
There’s no reason to believe that Reed isn’t ready for the moment.
‘I think the biggest thing is just going out and playing golf, trying not to let the moment take over me,’ said Reed, a runner-up at the PGA Championship last August. ‘I just need to hit golf shots, play the game and not worry about anything else. I’m just going to do my thing, stick to my game plan and go out and enjoy Sunday.
‘I’m not out there to play Rory. I’m out there to play the golf course.’
While Reed is looking to make history with his first major title, McIlroy would become the sixth player to complete the career grand slam with a win on Sunday.
‘It’s the last round of a major championship, and we’re both going for … Patrick is going for his first and I’m going for something else,’ McIlroy said to laughter after the round. ‘It’s going to be good fun.’
Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy following their singles match at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, which Reed won, 1-up. Getty Images
For the field, Saturday was all about trying to keep Reed in sight and moving into position to make some sort of a run on Sunday. At times, it became an all-out sprint, the tall pines along the second nine echoing with the vibrant roars of patrons saluting great shots and players not afraid to go low.
No headline here, but weathermen make double bogeys, too, and thus a round that appeared doomed to green patches of precipitation and rough conditions moved on with just the occasional shower beneath steely gray skies. The winds stayed tame, and the only hard rain falling at Augusta National was a deluge of birdies and eagles. Augusta’s appointed crystal engraver was in for a long night.
Experience means something at Augusta, but this 82nd edition has been taken over by some young guns apparently too impatient to wait. McIlroy (28), Fowler (29) and Jon Rahm (23) all fired 7-under 65s, tying the week’s low round.
McIlroy, Fowler and company will be chasing a leader who has won five times on the PGA Tour, a Ryder Cup stalwart who oozes confidence and is convinced he has the goods to join the list of golf’s major champions. In hindsight, Reed, 27, might have given Augusta National too much respect in his first four forays here at the Masters, his best showing being a tie for 22nd. This week, he has stayed on offense, has been riding a hot putter (he and McIlroy are tied through 54 holes for fewest putts, 79) and has put on an incredible show.
Five times this week Reed has set off on three-hole birdie strings, and Saturday, he tried to pull away with a pair of eagles on Augusta’s famed second nine par-5 holes. At No. 13, in a rain shower, he ripped a 4-iron from 211 yards out from a hanging lie to 14 feet and converted the putt; two holes later, he made eagle without ever reaching for the putter.
A risky ‘cut 3-wood’ from 264 yards barely made it past a watery death, clearing the pond and coming to rest some 27 yards from the flagstick. On the 83rd anniversary of Gene Sarazen’s double-eagle heard ‘round the world at No. 15, which led to victory in the 1935 Masters, Reed stepped up and pitched in his third, advancing to 15-under par. He led by five at the time.
‘Obviously, he’s playing well,’ Fowler said. ‘He’s riding the high.’
Sundays at Augusta National produce magic as few other venues can, and players write stories that will live on for years. Is this Patrick Reed’s time? Or will somebody step up to spoil his party?
‘It’s going to be electrifying,’ Reed said. ‘The fans are going to be ready.’
Reed hopes to be ready, too. History awaits.
Credit: Masters website
