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Race to Dubai: Patrick Reed Looks to Make History

By Michael Ellis

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 12: Patrick Reed of the United States team reacts on the 16th green during Thursday four-ball matches on day one of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 12: Patrick Reed of the United States team reacts on the 16th green during Thursday four-ball matches on day one of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Race to Dubai: Patrick Reed Looks to Make Golf History with Win at DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates-Earth Course.

After a pedestrian 2-under 70 in Round 1 of the DP World Tour Championship, Patrick Reed sits in the driver’s seat and subsequently controls his own fate after a birdie barrage in Round 2. Reed shot a sizzling 8-under 64 with nine birdies on Friday as he looks to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai: the final tournament of the 2020 European Tour slate.

Reed, currently #11 in the Official World Golf Rankings, came into the week in the number one position for the Race to Dubai crown. Lurking behind him in the Race to Dubai standings are some familiar names (Englishmen Tommy Fleetwood, Lee Westwood and Tyrrell Hatton) as well as 2020 PGA Championship winner and World Number 7, Collin Morikawa who sits at third.

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Heading into the weekend of the DP World Tour Championship, Reed (-10), leads Matthew Fitzpatrick (-8), Laurie Canter, Tyrrell Hatton (-7), Brandon Grace, Sami Valimaki, Lee Westwood and Tommy Fleetwood (-6) respectively. Reed will aim to keep his foot on the gas on Saturday and Sunday in order to secure his first Race to Dubai Championship and the first won by an American.

You get the sense that a win at the DP World Tour Championship, securing the first Race to Dubai title by an American, would have extra meaning for a player like Reed. Deemed “Captain America” after his boisterous performance at the 2014 Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, going 3-1-0 and famously hushing the Scottish crowd. Reed would then follow up his 2014 Ryder Cup performance with an even better showing at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Reed’s outstanding play that week would culminate in an epic Singles Match against Team Europe’s best player, Rory McIlroy; where Reed went on to beat McIlroy (1 up) and finish 4-0-1 overall.

Reed’s play at the Ryder Cup in 2014, 2016 and 2018 goes to show that he knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage, and knows how to finish against the games top competition.

With a Masters Tournament victory in 2018 and eight career wins to date, Reed is a bona fide Top 10 player on the planet. Reed’s unique shot shaping ability, precise iron play, and most importantly, his putting, have been the key to his success of late. Going into play this week, Reed’s strokes gained total is 13th on Tour and ranks 20th in strokes gained approach-to-the-green and 18th in strokes gained putting (PGA Tour statistics).

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Although Reed has had a few on-course transgressions (improving his lie in a sandy waste area), there is no denying that Reed is an absolute gamer built for moments like this; where he will attempt to make golf history and be the first American to capture a Race to Dubai Championship.

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