Gitty Reed hangs on to claim first major title
So ….. when the tented village has been finally dismantled and the tee markers are once again returned to their more forward positions, how will the events of the 2018 US Masters be remembered? Will they, for instance, rejoice in the coming of age of a much admired Texan born youngster who stood firm in the face of a concerted challenge from his less revered compatriots to claim a first major title? Or will they lament that the chasing pack, containing some of golf’s most wholesome individuals, were unable to prevent the pantomime villain from claiming the crown?
Life is not a fairy tale and not every story has a happy ending. But, then again that depends on where you are sitting. For Patrick Reed his victory at the 2018 US Masters is a dream come true and vindication of his 2014 claim – having become only the fifth player in history to win three PGA Tour events before his 24th birthday – that he was one of the top five players in the world. He went on to add “I feel like I have proven myself”. On hearing these word few were those who admired his brash confidence not least in light of a somewhat murky past. As a member of the University of Georgia’s college golf team he had a reputation for being less than pleasant to opponents. So much so, in fact, that he was eventually expelled.
With the ripples of his self assessment still in motion he rolled up at Gleneagles as a member of the US Ryder Cup Team. Here, boorish celebrations helped to embellish his questionable reputation and in so doing he become a natural lightning rod for European aggravation. Yet whilst his teammates faltered Reed garnered 3.5 points out of four, a demonstration of fearless determination in the face of stern opposition. Here was a man who fed off antagonism, someone who could more than handle himself in the heat of battle. It would be the same some two years later in his Ryder Cup singles match at Hazeltine, this time playing Europe’s talisman, Rory McIlroy. At one point over the opening nine holes such was the intensity of their match that it looked as if the two of them might actually come to blows. Sensing it was all getting a little out of hand, around the turn McIlroy decided tone down the celebrations. Yet in blinking first, he handed Reed the psychological edge which the latter used to his advantage by progressing to victory. How ironic then that a mere eighteen months later the two should find themselves head to head again only this time with a major title up for grabs. Who would prevail? The wholesome McIlroy, or the brash Reed?
For McIlroy, up until day four’s opening drive, the 2018 US Masters had gone perfectly. Over the first two days he had coped admirably with lighting fast greens, getting the ball in the right positions and putting well. On Friday night it rained slowing down the greens and making them far more receptive. Manna from heaven for McIlroy, who made the most of the easier conditions shooting a sparkling seven under par 67 to leave him on 11 under. He was striking the ball beautifully, putting well and crucially at three shots off the lead, spared the pressure of having to lead from the front. The stars were in perfect alignment. All he needed to do was reproduce the imperious form of his final round at The Arnold Palmer Invitational and the US Masters was his.
“All he needs to do” ….Henry Longhurst’s famous and prophetic words. All he needs to do is sweep his opening drive down the first fairway leaving an easy approach to the green. But Rory McIlroy didn’t do that as his swing went into overdrive, the ball disappearing way over the trees on the right. It was a shot worthy of a fourteen handicapper. Yet in managing to salvage par I felt he had endured his Baggar Vance moment. He could now settle and start to put pressure on his opponent. At the par five second hole he did just that with the most scintillating approach to within three feet. Holing the putt would draw him level with Reed. But when he came to play it didn’t even touch the hole. And with that miss his self belief started to drain. The ball striking that had been so evident over the first three days deserted him whilst on the greens his putting frailties returned. By the eighth hole he appeared to have lost heart and when he loses heart the fight evaporates from his veins.
Rory McIlroy is a magnificent golfer who has achieved far more than many will achieve in their lifetime. But he is sadly mentally fragile and particularly so when playing the US Masters. Were he to possess half of Patrick Reed’s self belief and grit he would by now have claimed two green jackets. But such is his frailty that I fear he may never claim one. Even commentators are beginning to surmise as much.
As for Reed, like the street fighter that he is, he played with steely determination. Never once did he get flustered as first Jordan Spieth and then Ricky Fowler appeared ever larger in his rear view mirror. Even his bad shots were shrugged off with calm insouciance. Above all his clutch putting displayed nerves of steel. Needing a par to win at the final hole of the Augusta National Golf Course with the US Masters up for grabs is a test which many have failed. Not Reed. Finishing with a regulation four, the applauds that greeted his triumph could be best summed up as muted. But Patrick Reed more deserved his win. The pantomime villain had prevailed the fairy tale end simply that - a fairy tale.
©Mark Brennand