Page 17 - ARUBA TODAY

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Thursday 12 april 2018

Reed's

defense REDICK-CULOUS

of Masters

title starts

early

By DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — Pat-
rick Reed won’t have to
wait until next April to de-
fend his title in the Masters.
Even as he slipped into a
green jacket, he was per-
ceived more as a villain
than a victor.
The loudest cheer from
the first tee at Augusta Na-
tional was for Rory McIlroy,
who played with Reed in
the final round.
The loudest cheer on the
18th green was for Rickie
Fowler, who finished ahead
of Reed.
The mood all afternoon
screamed out, “Anyone
but Patrick.”
Reed had the last shot, a
3-foot par putt for a one-
shot victory and his first ma-
jor championship.
All he did was play a brand
of golf that champions
from any era would em-
brace.
He seized control on Satur-
day with two eagles on the
back nine, the second a
3-wood from just under 270
yards into the wet, heavy
air that barely cleared the
water in front of the 15th
green.
From there, he chipped in
from 80 feet. And on Sun-
day, he heard the cheers 76ers get team-record 15th
ahead of him for Jordan
Spieth and answered with
a 25-foot birdie putt on No. straight win, 121-113 over Hawks
12 and an 8-foot birdie putt
on No. 14.
That’s how you win majors
and earn respect.
The applause, however,
sounded more like accep- Philadelphia 76ers guard JJ Redick (17) shoots as Atlanta Hawks forward John Collins (20) looks on during the second half of an
tance than celebration. NBA basketball game Tuesday, April 10, 2018, in Atlanta. Philadelphia won 121-113.
Associated Press
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