Patrick Reed’s parents go through highs, lows of son’s Masters win

Besides the Women’s tournament, Augusta will continue to host the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals, featuring 40 boys and 40 girls ages 7 to 15 for a competition the Sunday before the Masters.

Rory McIlroy is a four-time major champion but has never won the Masters.

AUGUSTA, Georgia-Patrick Reed won’t have to wait until next April to defend his title in the Masters. Casey found one more reason for his improved play: He slept in his 3-year-old son’s bed the past few nights in hopes of loosening up a tight hip.

But Patrick Reed had one less stroke on his card, claiming the green jacket by sinking a short but testy par putt at No. 18. That was up 14% from the 7.6 rating for the Masters’ final round past year, when hard-luck Sergio Garcia captured his first championship. “When you have those kind of tricks playing out there it doesn’t make it any easier”.

The 27-year-old Texan nearly managed to shoot under 70 in all four rounds of the event, something that nobody has managed to do in its entire history.

Spieth thought it would be a nice, stress-free day out on the course. He had a four-shot lead in the 2011 Masters and shot 80 in the final round.

“Are you kidding me”, Spieth mouthed to his caddie.

“A lot of the guys have been sending a lot of text messages, just lots of support and it just shows how close a group we are on the PGA Tour and we’re just one big family out there”, Reed said.

Spieth, meanwhile, was putting pressure on his compatriot and threatening the course record into the bargain.

But a runner-up finish in the Valspar Championship isn’t necessarily a good guide to major championship form. He plunked his tee shot at the par-3 12th into Rae’s Creek, his bogey dropping him to the 5-over cut line. “But it was a phenomenal day”.

“The big thing is sticking to what we’ve been doing well all week, continue to stick with our game plan”, added Fowler, who won the 2015 Players Championship after a four-hole playoff against Kevin Kisner and Garcia.

Fowler couldn’t resist a little jab at his good friend. I feel like my speed’s been on point.

But Spieth, only 24, already has three major titles on his resume. Fowler now has eight top-five finishes in 31 majors over his career. What became exciting, however, was how he rose to the occasion on day three and the final day, especially.

They cheered for McIlroy on the first tee, certain that he was going to overcome a three-shot deficit and win his first green jacket.

“I just kind of went out there and just tried to play golf the best I could and tried to stay in the moment and not worry about everything else”, he said during his post-tournament news conference. “I gave it a go and it came off”. I look to my left, (actor and comedian) Chris Rock’s there. “I haven’t been to the other two venues [Carnoustie and Bellerive] but it should be a very good major season”. Fowler showed a new degree of competitive poise and gave his best major performance ever, finishing with a fearless and confidence-building birdie on the 72nd hole that left Reed no out.

“The ovations that the fans gave to all of us and gave myself and everything now that I was in the place, it was awesome”. At 14 under overall, he was level with Reed, who had bogeyed 11 before immediately getting the shot back at 12. You miss it just a touch here it gets magnified.

Not everyone thinks this is a respectful move as many believe that only Tiger can rock red on Sunday.

Spieth, in particular, looked as though he was going to reel in his compatriot at one stage, as he produced one of the rounds of his life to get into contention.

“My next goal?” he said.

On The Masters being the major he most wanted to win.