When Patrick Reed opened up a five shot lead during the early stages of the final round at LIV Golf Dallas, fans would have been forgiven for assuming that the 2018 Masters champion was going to be able to stroll across the line and secure his first victory on the tour.
Patrick Reed did indeed land his first LIV Golf victory on Sunday at Maridoe Golf Club. However, that does not tell the full story of Reed’s day in Dallas.
It appeared highly likely that the event would end in a playoff. However, at one stage, it seemed that Reed may struggle to even make it, as a queue of players reached six under par.
Ultimately, Reed found himself in a playoff with Paul Casey, Louis Oosthuizen and Jinichiro Kozuma. But a brilliant putt on the first extra hole saw the 34-year-old get across the line.
Patrick Reed explains what his caddie kept telling him during the final round of LIV Golf Dallas
It was an ideal time for the putter to heat up after a frustrating day on the greens for Reed. He could have been out of sight had he been a little more clinical on the putting surfaces during the early stages on Sunday.
And it seems that Reed’s caddie Kessler Karain played an important role in ensuring that he did not get too frustrated with his initial lack of success on the greens, as he reflected on securing his first win on LIV.
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“I told myself that hey, the putts have to start falling. For the most part I felt like I was hitting the ball fine. Just a lot of missed putts. Just kind of go through the first nine, besides that first putt I made on hole one which was a close one, I go two-putt, three-putt, two-putt, two-putt, two-putt. Even when I made birdie on seven it was because I two-putted,” he said.
“I knew at some point that you’re going to have to deal with some adversity. It always happens every tournament, no matter when you win. You always have to deal with something. I had to deal with just the ball not going in and watching everyone get closer and closer and actually the lead there at one point.
“The only thing Kess kept telling me is keep giving yourself more opportunities. You have one more hole than everybody else since you had a later tee time. Keep on grinding, and when the last man is standing let’s make it count.”
What Patrick Reed said about his putting after finishing third at The Masters
Reed has had a really impressive year. He is now up to fourth in the individual standings on LIV after a third top 10 of the season.
Meanwhile, he also finished third at The Masters and felt that the result could have easily been very different at Augusta National – had the flat stick not let him down on the final day.
“I know. The putter. The putter killed me. Killed me this week. Really lost my opportunity to win a green jacket because of the putter,” he said.
“And yeah, I hit it well enough. I felt like I was hitting my putts where I was looking. Even today on the par-five, 13, I felt like I hit a good first putt. Seemed like it wiggled a hair left quickly on me, and when approximate they get that glassy, they can get away from you, and I thought I hit a good second one.
“It was one of those things that the putter cost me this week, but the good thing is, hey, ball-striking is there, and even when I’m not really feeling like I have it all that I need this week, I still had a chance.
“Had an outside chance I felt like going into today, and really, I still had a chance today.”
Of course, a second win at The Masters would have meant a lot more, but he will be extremely pleased that it was such an impressive putt which won him the title in Dallas.