Patrick Reed wins a Masters Tournament for the ages

 Patrick Reed wasn’t perfect on Sunday at the Masters, but he held up his end of the bargain. Holding off a hard-charging Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler, Reed claimed the treasured green jacket at Augusta National.

Patrick Reed is your 2018 Masters champion. Shhhhhh.

On Sunday morning, it seemed like it would be a foregone conclusion. But as it so often happens, Augusta National found a way of making him work for it, and amping up the drama to heights we rarely see.

As the day went on, challengers fell away, and others rose. Rory McIlroy, who had yet another chance to complete the career grand slam, never really got out of the gates. The Ulsterman was one-over par at the turn, and finished his day two-over, six off the lead.

While the day wasn’t meant to be McIlroy’s, that didn’t mean Reed was free and clear. Two of the game’s biggest young stars made it a fight for the ages.

The first challenge came from 2015 Masters winner Jordan Spieth. One day, there will be books written about Spieth’s greatness at the Masters, and he did everything he could on Sunday to give himself a chance at another green jacket. His 64 was the low round of the day, but a bogey on 18 all but sealed his fate to another near-miss.

Then, a player who once was thought of as more flash than substance proved, once again, how wrong that thought is. Rickie Fowler will win a major someday, but that day was not today. He made just one bogey all day, on the par-4 fifth, but that one dropped shot proved to be the difference in the end.

Patrick Reed was full speed ahead to Masters title

Of course, all of those players will have their day. On Sunday, Patrick Reed didn’t just join the elite fraternity of Masters champions. He stamped his place in history on his own terms.

Never once did the thought of easing off seem to enter Reed’s mind. Even when McIlroy fell off the pace, and it looked like Reed would be able to take it easy, he kept his foot on the gas the whole way.

But really, would you expect it any other way? That’s the only way Reed knows how. Whether he won or lost, it was going to be on his terms. And we saw how well that worked out, didn’t we?

The crowning moment may have been at the par-3 16th hole. At that point, Spieth was already in the house at -13, and Fowler hadn’t yet made his final move. Reed could have laid off the pin, aiming for the meaty part of the green and avoiding the water to the left.

That just wouldn’t have fit, though. He attacked, as he always does, and it paid off. He wound up making par on the hole, but that was all he needed. The lead was safe, and it would remain that way.

As the green jacket was draped over Reed’s shoulders in Butler Cabin, you could see the weight lifted off his shoulders. He’s been through a lot in his still-young career, and he’s never lost the faith in himself that he could be a top player in the world.

Now, going forward, he has the resume to truly back that up.

Patrick Reed is the newest Masters champion, and that can never be taken away from him. Through good weather and bad, with challengers breathing down his neck, he took care of business, and earned every bit of this moment.

Next: Top Five Masters Weekend Storylines

Congratulations to Patrick Reed, your 2018 Masters Champion!