Patrick Reed targets major glory

• American sets sights higher after winning fourth PGA Tour title
• Holds off Jimmy Walker to win in Hawaii
• “One missing piece right now is … trying to win a major”

After pipping Jimmy Walker to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions crown in Hawaii, Patrick Reed is setting his sights even higher, with getting to world No.1 spot and winning majors both on his agenda.

Reed, 24, edged out his US Ryder Cup teammate at the first extra hole of a play-off to win the fourth PGA Tour title of his career, and third in under a year.

Such an outcome had looked unlikely when Walker played the first ten holes of the final round in five-under to establish a commanding lead. However, he went one-over for the rest of the round, allowing Reed – who played the last four holes in three-under-par – to capitalise. Another birdie at the first extra hole, the 18th, sealed his win.

Unsurprisingly, having had such an impressive 12 months, the confident Texan is now targeting further glory.

CONTINUES BELOW…

• Reed celebrates birdieing the first play-off hole to win the Hyundai Tournament of Champions.

• Reed is congratulated by Hyundai Tournament of Champions runner-up Jimmy Walker.

“One missing piece right now is just contending and trying to win a major,” said Reed. “I was able to play in my first majors last year, and I was able to kind of see what they were like. I missed two of the cuts and I made two of the cuts, but on Sunday I wasn’t even a factor, and that’s the main thing for me is just keep improving in the golf and then in the majors have a chance coming down Sunday to at least make some noise.”

Elaborating on other targets, he added: “Everyone is trying to get to the best in the world but that’s going to take a long time. It’s nothing that happens overnight, that’s for sure.

“Winning another event, it gives me confidence, but at the same time I need to back it up with continued playing well and continue having a chance.”

“My play at Gleneagles was awesome.” – Patrick Reed

Impressively, Reed’s latest win sees him become just the fourth player in the last 20 years to reach four PGA Tour wins before the age of 25, emulating Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia.

He admitted that his eye-catching Ryder Cup debut last September at Gleneagles, where he won three-and-a-half points out of four, has done wonders for his not-exactly-lacking confidence.

“My play at Gleneagles was awesome,” he added. “I live for that kind of stuff where I can go head to head against somebody and just go out and try to dominate the field.

“Matchplay is just so much fun, especially at the Ryder Cup. When people say you’ve never felt anything like it, it’s so true. To step up on a tee representing your country, going out and playing against one guy and trying to go get a point and help the team out, it’s just so much fun.”

Patrick Reed :: A major force?

Do you expect Patrick Reed to back up his impressive play over the last 12 months by contending or perhaps even winning a major? Which event do you think he is most likely to win? Leave your thoughts in our ‘Comments’ section below

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor