Tour News

We have a winner! Patrick “Captain America” Reed wins The 2018 Masters

Published

6 years ago

Apr 8, 2018

Despite Reed starting with a 3-stroke lead and ultimately winning the event, golfers in contention gave viewers and patrons everything they wanted at the 2018 Masters. Birdies began to happen at the 10th hole for Jon Rahm, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson and Cameron Smith… pretty much everyone except the two leaders. In another time wrinkle, Jordan Spieth came from the leader board’s third page, shooting a front-nine 31. He kept the fire going on the back-nine, and he nearly set the Masters final round scoring record, only to give a reprise of his 18th hole tee shot on Thursday and finish oh so close. In the end, Fowler’s 67 and closing-hole birdie was enough to put the ultimate pressure on Patrick Reed, but Captain America did not falter.

Patrick Reed’s Winning WITB from The 2018 Masters

The clinching putt.

Congratulations to @PReedGolf, 2018 #themasters Champion. pic.twitter.com/zEkWleSeRK

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018

The man from Augusta University (nee Augusta State) came into round 4 with everything to prove and everything to lose. Having never walked the final fairways of a major in contention, Reed wanted to silence those who doubted him, those who expected Rory McIlroy to complete the career grand slam on this 8th day of April. The overnight leader started slowly, with bogey at the first hole. When he failed to birdie the par-5 second hole, whispers of uncertainty echoed around Augusta National and televisions everywhere. Undaunted, Reed made a fortunate birdie from off the green at the third hole, to return to even on the day. When he played his approach to hole No. 7 to perfection, using the slope to draw his ball back to inches for another birdie, his game face was firmly planted.

Good thing, because Jon Rahm had moved into double figures-under par, and McIlroy was hanging around, despite a balky putter. The day would not go well at all for Rory, as he gave strokes back to par and finished in a 4-way tie for 5th, at 9-under par. As for Rahm, he was in the thick of the matter until his second to the 15th came back off the fringe, into the pond. The emotions he had kept in check all day were released, and he ended in 4th spot alone, at 11-under.

Much like Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler made few waves with his front nine. The man in orange countered a bogey at 5 with birdies at 8 and 9, to reach the turn within sight of the leader. The magic began to happen for Fowler on Golden Bell, the treacherous par three that traverses Rae’s Creek. The center of Amen Corner surrendered the first of four, back-nine birdies for Fowler, who made zero bogeys on the inward half. With a short putt for 3 at the last, he moved ahead of Spieth (-13) into the clubhouse lead at 14-under par.

.@RickieFowler closes his final-round 67 with a birdie on No. 18 and finishes at 14-under par. #themasters pic.twitter.com/QfwwjncVVk

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018

Two shots defined the conclusion of the 2018 Masters.

On 13, Reed’s approach to the par five came up short of the green, but did not descend into the creek. He was able to pitch on, then two-putt for par. Rather than taking a penalty stroke and being forced to pitch and putt for par, Reed’s conclusion to the hole was much more tranquil.

The second was Spieth’s drive down the 18th hallway. Lightning struck a second time, as Spieth again clipped a left-side tree and watched as his ball dropped straight down, not even to the fairway. Faced with 315 yards to the green, he could do little more than hope to get up and down for par. His wedge third shot gave him a chance at par, but he missed the putt that Reed would later make to win. Spieth finished solo third at 13-under, with Fowler one ahead at 14-under.

.@JordanSpieth moves into a tie for the lead at 14-under par with the lengthy birdie on No. 16. #themasters pic.twitter.com/vAGnHpHyno

— Masters Tournament (@TheMasters) April 8, 2018

What does the green jacket mean for Patrick Reed? For starters, it gives him great confidence as an individual player, rather than just a Ryder Cup Team titan. In addition, as if he needed any more potency as a national team member, he now represents the USA in France as a major champion, in addition to his international caps.

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Ronald Montesano

Ronald Montesano writes for GolfWRX.com from western New York. He dabbles in coaching golf and teaching Spanish, in addition to scribbling columns on all aspects of golf, from apparel to architecture, from equipment to travel. Follow Ronald on Twitter at @buffalogolfer.

40 Comments

A. Commoner

Apr 9, 2018 at 9:57 pm

What the devil is going on here?

Reply Report comment
Walt Pendleton

Apr 9, 2018 at 2:41 pm

Let those without mistakes in their lives throw the first stone at other’s success! Your negative opinions, regarding another player, identify you as a bunch of whining, condescending, dillie-dillie spectators of the game and not players! Golf would be better off if you just crawled back under the rock you came from!

Reply Report comment
- No Playing Duck
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 11:13 pm
  
  Once a player is labeled a cheat, real players will never respect him. This guy cheated in college and he will never be respected by people that know and play golf well.
  
  Reply Report comment
BallBuster

Apr 9, 2018 at 12:36 pm

Should have been three “shot defined the conclusion of the 2018 Masters”. Reed’s first putt on 17 from a mile away from off the green was rolling by the hole like it’s the Daytona 500 and going into likely 3 jack territory when it caught the lip, bounced up a bit, and still went 5 or 6 feet past. He made that to hang on to a 2 stroke lead… which Fowler erased one of them on 18 for some drama at the wire. That was critical as things can add up quickly coming down the stretch and often a little fortunate break is huge.

Reply Report comment
- George
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 2:03 pm
  
  So it hit the cup and did not roll off the green every winner has some luck,Take Tiger several years ago ball lanced behind a 2 ton rook but he got a bunch of guy’s to move it, removable pebble
  
  Reply Report comment
  - George
    
    Apr 9, 2018 at 2:08 pm
    
    landed behind
    
    Reply Report comment
Bill

Apr 9, 2018 at 10:28 am

I can’t stand how the anti- Augusta rhetoric comes out because Reed wins. If Spieth won again we would marvel at his superiority, yet Reed wins and The Masters shouldn’t be a major. Reed is a quality player who hadn’t yet broken through. If you don’t want to see new winners, I’m not sure why you watch golf.

Reply Report comment
- Vincent Donahue
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 1:03 pm
  
  I agree completely with you Bill. It’s so irritating when one of the fair haired boys doesn’t win some fans turn away from congratulating the winner. I like Rory, Ricky and Jordan but I was thrilled Patrick Reed won!
  
  Reply Report comment
- George
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 2:06 pm
  
  Patrick and his family don’t get along he had them removed from course back several years ago and a lot of people think he is an A– Hole for doing that
  
  Reply Report comment
Illin'

Apr 9, 2018 at 2:07 am

Eldrick is a total d1ck but people love him. Why? Reed is a decent dude who’s a bit intense. If only these posts would indicate the race and background of the commenters lol

Reply Report comment
- Smith
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 8:17 am
  
  Wow…I have no words.
  
  Reply Report comment
- John Krug
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:11 pm
  
  A little something on Patrick Reed: http://tobaccoroadblues.com/2015/01/30/the-villain-patrick-reed/
  
  Reply Report comment
- Seth
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 3:22 pm
  
  Reed is not a decent dude. Cheated at Georgia, booted off the team, had parents escorted off the course, poor sportsmanship, wears Tiger Res on Sundays. Why do you think he has limited sponsors?
  
  Reply Report comment
Mike Trotter

Apr 9, 2018 at 12:50 am

Well done Reed. I’m curious though as to why the Augusta crowd didn’t take to him whereas the appreciation for Rory, Ricky, and Jordan was much greater. What has he done to upset the gallery?

Reply Report comment
- stan
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:52 am
  
  The gawking spectators always suck up to the top ranked players… it’s part of their delusional existence trying to play golf.
  
  Reply Report comment
- The Truth
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:08 pm
  
  Ummmm hes arrogant and thinks hes top 5 in the world be humble Fatrick . ????????????????.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Rob
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:27 pm
  
  He is a tool bag. He hasn’t spoken to his family since like 2012…
  
  Reply Report comment
Chuck Barkley

Apr 8, 2018 at 11:57 pm

Oh, and Fatrick Reed’s caddie/brother in-law with “zero experience” was the difference in Rory’s loss, I suppose?

Reply Report comment
- The Truth
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:09 pm
  
  Lol i thought i was the only one that called him Fatrick ????????????
  
  Reply Report comment
Bob Parson Jr.

Apr 8, 2018 at 11:22 pm

One thing is for sure, Rory McIlroy needs to find a professional caddie. Having your beer buddy hauling your clubs around is not a good idea when you are trying to win tournaments and trying to achieve the career Grand Slam. He gave it to Reed, specially on the greens.

Reply Report comment
- stan
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:50 am
  
  What? He misread his AimPoint charts…?
  
  Reply Report comment
Chuck Barkley

Apr 8, 2018 at 10:56 pm

I agree to agree. Thank you Bob Parson Jr. for your observation.

Reply Report comment
- stan
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:54 am
  
  …. sez the Round Mound of Sound ….!
  
  Reply Report comment
youraway

Apr 8, 2018 at 9:00 pm

I think we have a great champion, and fantastic and exciting Masters!

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 8, 2018 at 10:01 pm
  
  +1
  
  Reply Report comment
Bob Parson Jr.

Apr 8, 2018 at 8:59 pm

A very unremarkable champion for a very unremarkable tournament. The Masters is not a true Major Championship, but more like an exhibition. The Players Championship is a a Major Championship, not this.

Common folks can’t get tickets, barely any minority members, antiquated rules about fan appreciation, second cut not rough, small field by invitation only, come on people, that’s not what a Major Championship is supposed to be.

Let the trailer park trash celebrate their new champion, chicken wings and beer on the house.

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 8, 2018 at 10:00 pm
  
  “A very unremarkable champion for a very unremarkable tournament.”
  –International team success now major champion. Masters finds a way to keep course fair and challenging every year…Disagree
  
  “The Masters is not a true Major Championship, but more like an exhibition. The Players Championship is a a Major Championship, not this.”
  –Need a better definition of what line delineates major from non-major. Players Championship is the true championship of the PGA Tour, but is not a historic major…Agree/Disagree
  
  “Common folks can’t get tickets, barely any minority members, antiquated rules about fan appreciation, second cut not rough, small field by invitation only, come on people, that’s not what a Major Championship is supposed to be.”
  –Tennis plays its 4 major championships on 4 different surfaces. Golf utilizes a variety of course types, but only one returns to the same place each year. Not by invitation, but by qualification. Green surfaces so fast and undulating that anything above 2 inches of rough will cause scores in the mid to high 70s. Common folks can’t go to Super Bowl, Final four, etc. …Disagree
  
  “Let the trailer park trash celebrate their new champion, chicken wings and beer on the house”
  -This is entirely offensive. You need to be a better man than this.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Bob Parson Jr.
    
    Apr 8, 2018 at 10:35 pm
    
    We will have to agree to disagree. I’m standing by my comments, but I also respect your opinion. You live in NY, you don’t know what is to live in Georgia, I do. Let me put it to you this way, Bobby Jones is no hero of the Civil Rights movement, on the contrary, Bobby Jones and McKenzie were two of the biggest racists to ever walk the grounds of Augusta, Georgia.
    
    Lots of things have gone wrong in Augusta for decades. In reality, the Masters is a reminder to Georgians of a past that continues to manifest itself in the present.
    
    I apologize if I offended you, but the Masters is a disgraceful tournament with a disgraceful past, and a more disgraceful present.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - stan
      
      Apr 8, 2018 at 10:55 pm
      
      Last May a bronze statue of Gen. Robert E. Lee was removed from New Orleans.
      Perhaps Augusta National should be plowed under based on it’s past politically incorrect history.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Bob Parson Jr.
        
        Apr 8, 2018 at 11:07 pm
        
        Not at all, but to deny the past is to ignore the present.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        stan
        
        Apr 9, 2018 at 12:44 am
        
        I don’t give a flying fig about historical injustices. I have enough problems in the present and I reject being punished for past sins centuries ago. 😛
        
        Reply Report comment
      - Bob Parson Jr.
        
        Apr 8, 2018 at 11:16 pm
        
        Politically Incorrect history? Wow, nice oversimplification. At least is nice to know where you stand.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        stan
        
        Apr 9, 2018 at 12:46 am
        
        You go bleed over historical injustices. I reject any guilt loaded on me by self-loathing extremists anarchists.
        
        Reply Report comment
        
        Birdswing Golfer
        
        Apr 9, 2018 at 3:52 am
        
        I always found it amusing that a tournament build by racists in a confederate state was called the masters though!
        
        Reply Report comment
- Vincent Donahue
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 1:09 pm
  
  I disagree. Ask most professional golfers if they could only win one major, a majority would choose the Masters. You sound like someone who has been snubbed by ANGC or the tournament. You sure don’t sound like a common folk with your snide commments about trailer trash!
  
  Reply Report comment
- Vincent Donahue
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 1:16 pm
  
  I disagree completely. Many tour players when asked which major they would want to win if they could only win one, it would be the Masters. The most difficult of the four majors to win. You sure don’t sound like common folk with your trailer trash comments. You are absolutely correct about Rory’s caddie. He needs a very seasoned pro.
  
  Reply Report comment
- jeffrey monnich
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 4:02 pm
  
  I love the TPC course you have to be so precise Augusta fairways are way too wide except for 18, right Jordan.
  
  Reply Report comment
Birdswing Golfer

Apr 8, 2018 at 7:52 pm

Well done

Reply Report comment
- Ronald Montesano
  
  Apr 8, 2018 at 10:01 pm
  
  Agree
  
  Reply Report comment
- stan
  
  Apr 9, 2018 at 12:48 am
  
  I prefer medium rare …. 😀
  
  Reply Report comment

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