FedEx Cup Power Rankings: Top ten at The Northern Trust
Patrick Reed hasn’t been at the center of PGA TOUR fans’ attention this year, and that’s understandable. He’s won at least one event a year since the 2013 season, but so far in 2017, he’s winless, and he’s got just three top-ten finishes on his record.
The good news? The last one of those came in his last start at the PGA Championship. Reed was right there until the end, and was part of a trio just two shots behind Justin Thomas. Had Thomas given an inch down the stretch, we may well be talking about Reed as the newest first-time major winner.
Of course, “if” doesn’t get you very far, but I like a lot of what I saw from Reed at Quail Hollow. Reed ranked eighth in the field in strokes gained: tee-to-green, and 11th in strokes gained: putting. His nine bogeys were tied for fourth-fewest in the field, and he drained 17 birdies along the way.
While nobody in this field has any meaningful experience at Glen Oaks, if it truly plays like “Augusta North”, then Reed could be in for a serious breakout week. He’ll get to maintain the aggression that he’s known for, and if the putter is as hot as it was at Quail Hollow, he’ll be a strong contender.
One more thing to remember – Reed’s last PGA TOUR victory came exactly one year ago, at the 2016 Barclays. What better way to build momentum for the rest of the FedEx Cup Playoffs could there be?