Unpopular Patrick Reed steps closer to being ‘best golfer in the world’ as he holds nerve for first major win at Masters
Outspoken Texan remains outside sport’s top five but fulfils his goal for the year by winning the green jacket with 15-under finish at the Augusta National
Patrick Reed still isn’t a top-five player in the world, but when he walked off the 18th green Sunday at Augusta National, he was something more important – a Masters champion.
The outspoken 27-year-old American, who first came to world attention in 2014 by declaring himself a world top-five talent after a WGC win at Doral, held off Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler down the back nine Sunday to win the 82nd Masters.
He is projected to jump from 24th to 11th in Monday’s world rankings, but he has still never reached the top five, with a career high of seventh.
Comparing himself to idol Tiger Woods and other “legends of the game” four years ago rubbed many the wrong way, especially since he had never played in a major tournament.
“I don’t ever regret anything I really say. I stand by my comments,” Reed said.
Having broken through for his first major title by one stroke over Fowler and two over Spieth, he has proven his point that he deserves consideration among the finest players in the world.
“I feel like I’ve played some golf that I need to play in order to get to where I want to be, and that’s to be the best golfer in the world,” he said. “The way you’re going to do that is perform in these big events and to win these big events.”