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Tuesday 10 april 2018
Column: Reed shows at Masters he's just as tough on his own

By DOUG FERGUSON on the par-5 15th for par.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) — One He had to make a 6-footer
of the messages Patrick for par on the 17th. And he
Reed received for his hard- left his approach to 18th
earned Masters victory above the hole, and while
came from Tiger Woods, he had two putts to win,
who added a personal the par putt was enough to
touch to his tweet of con- make anyone nervous.
gratulations . "It's just a way of God ba-
"At worst you have assured sically saying, 'Let's see if
yourself a captain's pick for you have it,'" Reed said.
next year's Presidents Cup," "Everyone knows you have
he wrote. it physically with the talent.
That's still 20 months away in But do you have it mental-
Australia and on nobody's ly? Can you handle the ups
mind except for Woods', and downs throughout the
mainly because he's the round?"
U.S. captain for the 2019 Reed grew up wanting to
matches. Much closer on be just like Woods, inside
the calendar is the Ryder and out.
Cup in France at the end of He prefers to wear black
September. Reed moved pants and a red shirt on
to the top of the standings Sunday, though that was
by capturing his first major. scrapped when Nike
If he wasn't already a lock, wanted its clients (except
he is now. For the last four Woods) to wear a fuchsia
years, the Ryder Cup has shirt for the final day at the
defined Reed's success in Masters. More than how
golf. He earned his way Patrick Reed holds the championship trophy after winning the Masters golf tournament Sunday, he looked, he wanted to
onto the last two teams April 8, 2018, in Augusta, Ga. mimic the mental side of
by winning tournaments, Woods. He was asked a
including a World Golf The guy who lives for red, Maybe that's why when They won't forget him now. little more than three years
Championship at Doral white and blue is now asso- he turned on the televi- Not after he recovered ago what that entailed.
and a FedEx Cup playoff ciated with Masters green. sion Sunday morning with from a shaky start — 1 over "Be stubborn. Focus on
event at Bethpage. And as "He's always been a fight- a three-shot lead, he heard through 11 holes — by nev- what you're doing, not
much as Reed boasted af- er," Rickie Fowler said af- plenty of flattering obser- er flinching among a cho- anyone around you," Reed
ter the 2014 victory at Doral ter his third runner-up fin- vations about his game rus of roars along the back said. "He was just so fo-
that he considered himself ish in a major. "He's always without anyone thinking nine at Augusta National. cused and determined to
one of the top 5 players been good at match play. he was going to win. In Reed made a 25-foot bird- play well. And that's what
in the world, he didn't win It seems like a whole new five years on the PGA Tour, ie putt on No. 12. Jordan I'm trying to do."
enough to back that up. animal comes out when he he had only five victories. Spieth ran off four birdies in That's what did on Sunday
That's why his reputation gets in Ryder Cup or Presi- That might explain why he five holes to tie for the lead, at Augusta National.
was built more on playing dents Cup. It's nice that was an afterthought in so and Reed answered with a That's why he's a Masters
for his flag than for him- he's on our team." many conversations about birdie on the 14th. champion, his new identity.
self. He was the Ryder Cup Fowler showed some fight, the players in their 20s who He had to get up-and- That probably won't hurt
rookie who brashly pressed too. He had six birdies over seem to be taking over. down behind the green him in France, either.q
his finger to his lips to shush the last 11 holes, including
the crowds in Scotland an 8-foot birdie on the final KANE Kane played for the U.S. at worlds a year ago. “He’s
when he was unbeaten hole that cut the lead to Continued from Page 17 the 2010 and 2014 Olym- experienced,” Zito said of
in four matches, and who one shot and forced Reed Kane last played at the pics and next month will Blashill. “He’s been there
wagged his finger at Rory to hit all the right shots on world championships in lead a strong team that before. He was hungry to
McIlroy at Hazeltine when the 18th hole. 2008, his first in the NHL includes Buffalo Sabres go. And I think he brings
he buried big putts on top That didn't do any good. and the last time the rookie and world junior a nice balance. He brings
of him. Reed was solid as ever. The Blackhawks missed the MVP Casey Mittelstadt a great balance of the
Major champion? bigger the moment, the playoffs. The three-time and possibly Detroit Red technical expertise of the
Reed had never registered better he seems to play. Stanley Cup winner's pres- Wings forward Dylan Lar- game — he’s a student of
a top 10 in any of the big- The question is whether that ence should improve the kin. the game and he’s study-
gest events until a runner- translates to more victories, quality of play at the tour- "Any time you get to wear ing, he’s always into the
up finish in the PGA Cham- and more majors. nament and the interest in the USA sweater, it's super little nuances that make
pionship last summer, and "The Ryder Cup, it's a totally fellow U.S. players to join exciting," Mittelstadt said. up a game — as well as
even then he didn't have different type of pressure," him. "I think what it says is it "So for me, to go out there the personal, one-on-one
a chance to win when Reed said. "You go to a Ry- doesn't matter where you and get to play with some to get the most out of the
playing the 18th hole. His der Cup and you feel like are in hockey, if you love of the best American play- individuals.” “Canada
record was even more sus- you have a whole nation the game, you want to ers and obviously make has always managed to
pect at the Masters. Reed on your back. If you win or be part of it and respect a push for a gold medal, bring together elite-level
had played 12 rounds at lose your match, you still USA Hockey and Pat Kane it's going to be some- coaches and players, and
Augusta National without have a bunch of other guys showed up," Zito said. thing that's really good we’re again fortunate to
ever breaking 70, and only there that could pick it up." "It's really exciting. I think for my development." be led by an experienced
two of those rounds were Reed was known for his it's exciting for the whole Jeff Blashill, who coaches coaching staff for this
under par. toughness, but that didn't tournament. It's a great Larkin in Detroit, is back year’s world champion-
One week changed every- always translate to stroke day for USA Hockey and after making his interna- ship,” co-general manag-
thing. play. for hockey in general." tional coaching debut at er Sean Burke said.q