With the pressure reduced, Patrick Reed wins the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Patrick Reed attended college less than 5 miles away from Augusta National, just down Berckmans Road that cuts through the heart of the Masters free parking lots on the west side of the course. He helped deliver two NCAA golf titles to Augusta State. He should be the hometown hero. Who doesn’t love a local-boy-makes-good story? Yet as he walked to the first tee on the biggest day of his life, it quickly became clear that the patrons were more enamored of his playing partner, the engaging Northern Irishman whose only tie to the area is his appearance every April, which in previous visits ended in either heartbreak or frustration.  A few minutes earlier, Rory McIlroy had drained a lengthy birdie putt on the practice green, causing cheers loud enough that a security officer had to warn his fans, “There’s a group on the first tee, so just be mindful of that.â€� There were no such loud roars for Reed as he prepped for his opening tee shot. “Had a really welcoming cheer from the fans,â€� he would diplomatically recall later, “but then when Rory walked up to the tee, you know, his cheer was a little louder.â€� Reed wasn’t surprised. He understood – Augusta National reveres its history, and on Sunday, fans wanted to see history made, with McIlroy in line to become the sixth player to complete the career Grand Slam. Reed, starting the day three strokes in front, was merely seeking his first major. His story wasn’t as compelling. Captain America – the man of the people just 18 months ago when he beat McIlroy in Singles to lead the U.S. to the Ryder Cup — would not win the popularity contest, even in his old college stomping grounds. It turned out to be the best thing for the new Masters champ. Holding the 54-hole lead at Augusta National is among the biggest pressure-cookers in golf. McIlroy tried to reinforce that notion the day before, essentially saying it was Reed’s tournament to lose. But when Reed woke up Sunday morning, he switched on Golf Channel as usual, and watched as pundit after pundit explained why McIlroy would win Sunday. Only one analyst picked Reed to win – Notah Begay III.  “Thanks, Notah. Appreciate it,â€� Reed said. “You’re my boy.â€� Few expected him to win. Few were cheering for him. Reed channeled those two thoughts and came to one conclusion: No expectations equals no pressure. “Seemed like everyone else was saying how great I was playing all week, how very impressed they were,â€� explained Reed, who opened with three rounds in the 60s to become the outright leader the previous two days. “But come Saturday night and Sunday morning, they were like, ‘Oh, well, even though we said all these great things about how he’s playing, we think Rory’s going to win.’ “You know, going into that, it just was like, ‘OK, that takes a little bit of that pressure off of me and I can just go out and try to play golf.’ That kind of fit into the motto that I was trying to do all week – just go out and play golf.â€� Then Reed added: “It’s definitely harder to do that than I thought.â€� Indeed, this was no easy stroll to the Green Jacket. Reed opened with a bogey, and McIlroy birdied the second. Reed was fortunate to still maintain the lead, as McIlroy missed a 4-foot eagle attempt. Still, the lead had been quickly reduced. McIlroy, though, was off his game. Bogeys at the third and fifth holes were ominous signs that turned into critical mistakes. He never could generate any pressure on his Ryder Cup rival, eventually becoming a non-factor on the back nine en route to a final-round 74. “Momentum is a huge thing, especially in final rounds,â€� McIlroy said. “You look at what Jordan and Rickie did. They got on a roll and I didn’t.â€� Ah, yes, Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler. Two of Reed’s American teammates – and in Spieth, his key partner in crime against the rest of the world. If McIlroy couldn’t keep Reed honest, they would. Spieth, nine shots behind to start the day, tore up Augusta National, shooting an 8-under 64 – the lowest final round in Masters history. Reed, a constant leaderboard watcher, was well aware of Spieth’s rapid climb into contention. At 5:31 p.m., Spieth drained a 33-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole to tie for the lead. A minute earlier, Reed hit his second shot into the par-5 13th. The ball came up short but hung precariously on the bank. It was a fortunate stroke of luck, a sign that perhaps this was Reed’s day. Par there. Fifteen minutes later, Reed birdied the 14th to regain the lead. Spieth was running out of holes. It was an electrifying charge, but he simply started too far back. “I almost pulled off the impossible,â€� Spieth said. Fowler, meanwhile, finished with a birdie on the final hole, closing to within one shot and forcing Reed to par the 18th. It was Fowler’s sixth birdie in his final 11 holes, but he had started too late.  “We did everything we could,â€� Fowler said. “And Patrick went out there and outplayed all of us this week and he earned it.â€� “I knew the lead was going to shrink,â€� Reed said. “It’s the flows of golf. You’ve just got to know how to handle it.â€� In the end, it was a battle – and that’s exactly what Reed needed. No easy strolls to the Green Jacket. He needed the kind of atmosphere he thrives on in team events. He needed to be tested. He needed the inner fire. The doubters. The cheers for others. The opportunity to prove people wrong. “To see his intensity week after week – I can’t do it,â€� said Bubba Watson, who was the first player to hug Reed as he walked off 18. “I don’t have the mindset, first of all, and I don’t have the energy to do it. It’s pretty impressive to watch.â€� “Patrick, he’s not scared,â€� added Fowler. “I think you guys have seen that previously from the Ryder Cups and the way he plays. He’s not scared on the golf course. He’ll play aggressive. He’ll play his game. He won’t back down.  “I don’t necessarily see him as someone that backs up and will let you come back into the tournament. You have to go catch him.â€� He’s not scared on the golf course. He’ll play aggressive. He’ll play his game. He won’t back down. Reed said Sunday’s round was the most mentally challenging of his career. The pressure, he said, was different than in team events. There weren’t 11 other players who could pick him up if he had a bad day. He was on his own this time. In the end, though, he would finally receive his proper due from the fans. They stood and cheered as Reed celebrated on the 18th green with his wife Justine. They reached out and offered their hands in congratulations as he made his way to the scoring area to sign for the 1-under 71. They applauded as he slipped on the Green Jacket. History would have to wait. Patrick Reed just wanted to go out and play golf. 

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