Hong Kong Open: Patrick Reed hopes for rub of the greens on return to happy hunting ground
American defending champion says his game is ‘just a hair off’ and is glad to be at a venue he knows well and where he enjoys playing
Patrick Reed returns to a favourite stamping ground this week, ready to defend his Link Hong Kong Open title and looking forward to getting his putter working again.
The American hardly struggled during last week’s International Series Philippines event, finishing in a group on 11 under that also included Hong Kong pair Taichi Kho and Matthew Cheung.
But the 2018 Masters champion felt his game was “just a hair off” and it had mostly shown on the greens at Sta Elena Golf Club, where local hero Miguel Tabuena won by three shots.
“I just missed a ton of putts,” Reed said. “Everyone’s gonna hit a couple of loose golf shots, but I just couldn’t figure out the greens, couldn’t make putts. So I’m happy to go to a place where I know the greens [Hong Kong], so hopefully get that flat stick working. If we do, then I mean I like my chances.”
Reed has plenty of reasons for feeling optimistic, 25 of them in fact, as this was the number of putts he made during his historic round of 59 at Hong Kong Golf Club last year.
Then there is the third-place finish at this year’s Masters, the victory at LIV Golf Dallas and the tie for third at last month’s BMW PGA Championship.