The captain is now the champion.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It was his worst round at Augusta National this week, but as the patrons were fixated on Jordan Spieth climbing up the leader board, Patrick Reed gained momentum on the back nine to hold on and win the Masters, his first major title, on Sunday.
Reed won the iconic green jacket by shooting 15-under for the tournament near his old stomping grounds at Augusta State, now Augusta College, where he played collegiately and won two national championships.
It wasn’t necessarily a home match for the San Antonio native. But he had supporters there, and his time playing at Augusta Nationally annually helped him navigate the tricky hills and clear the treacherous waters.
„Really I feel like I’m just able to pull from the experiences from the past and be able to figure out the golf course from previous years and what I did in the past,“ Reed said after his third round.
Reed went into the day with a three-stroke lead over Rory McIlroy. The Ryder Cup foes were paired for the final grouping of the day. Some missed putts took McIlroy out of contention before he made it to the back nine as Spieth continued to birdie on some of the most difficult holes the pristine course has to offer. He nearly tied the best round in The Masters history, but finished one stroke back at 64.
Reed could hear the roars as Spieth birdied on 15 and 16, but he was gaining momentum himself. He hit a 30-foot putt for a birdie on 12 moments after Spieth had tied the lead. He nearly found himself in Rae Creek on 13 but it landed in the rough. After a good up and down, Reed missed the putt for birdie and settled for par. But it could have been a lot worse.
Masters 2018: Patrick Reed| 12th Hole, Round 4 pic.twitter.com/GCfhbSf3W9
His putt on 14 kept him with a one-shot lead, and Spieth missed putts on 17 and 18 for par and bogey, respectively, allowing Reed to cruise on the final holes. Spieth finished third at 13-under.
Ricky Fowler made six birdies on his final round, including one on 18 that put him within a shot of Reed. But Reed made a two-putt for par to clinch the victory. Fowler finished in second at 14-under.
The clinching putt. Congratulations to @PReedGolf, 2018 #themasters Champion. pic.twitter.com/zEkWleSeRK
It’s the first major title for Reed. He’s the fourth consecutive first-time major winner at The Masters.
His previous best finish in a major was at the PGA Championship in 2017 where he tied for second. His memorable round at the Ryder Cup in 2016 helped the U. S. win and earn his „Captain America“ nickname.
While he has a checkered past and questionable support from golf fans, he really doesn’t care. And it’s possible his performance over the weekend may change people’s perception of the 27-year-old.
The captain is now the champion.
