It was what Patrick Reed described as a huge win and it came on the last day of play at the Barclay’s PGA tournament at Bethpage Black. He started the day in second place and prevailed with 9-under 71 over Sean O;Hair. Reed won his second major tournament with a two shot lead going into the last day of play.
“It’s great any way you win a golf tournament, this is second I’ve had, a two shot lead going into the last and was able to play really conservative,” he said about a bogey on the last play that sealed the win. The putt on 17, a 6 7-footer for par made it all official.
And then, Reed described the final moments which puts him among the elite on the PGA tour. “You have a two shot lead going into the last hole,” he said. “The wind is a little bit off the left. Just hit five wood down there and you should be perfect. I guess because of the adrenaline, it went a little further than I expected. I saw land in the bunker so I’m thinking, I’m all right. It’s just a bunker. I’ll somehow get to the green two par on the 18th hole.
It has been a long haul for Reed. As he said, frustrating not winning tournaments and making the cut have not been easy.
“It’s been frustrating,” Reed said. “Not winning golf tournaments We’re not showing up to make cuts and slide by. Everyone that plays golf tournaments are trying to go out and win.”
Reed was impressed with Bethpage Black, and the enthusiastic crowds of the past few days.
“They are awesome,” he said moments after his win. “You don’t go to golf tournaments very often and have crowds literally come up with chats.The only time I’ve heard chants before was at Gleneagles. You know to step up on the first tee and there is chat going on Then all of sudden if people start to heckle you, then you start to prove them wrong.”
Fowler with a disappointing back 9 slipped to seventh and encountered difficulty holes 15, 16, 5, and 6.
“I didn’t drive the ball the way I needed to,” Fowler said. “You had to be playing out of fairway. So playing the back nine all week. Coming into the last eight holes , I made one bogey though the week. I made a couple of bad swings at the wrong time.”
Last years champion, Jason Day finished fourth with a 7-under 69.