Patrick Reed opted to skip playing last week in Los Angeles. He grew up in Texas and played his college golf in Georgia. His best golf as a pro has tended to be on the east coast, so I don’t blame him for gearing up for the Florida Swing.
Reed’s two weeks off come at a good time. He played three out of the four previous weeks while racking up loads of air miles. He earned T-21st at the Tournament of Champions in Hawaii, went to the mainland a couple weeks later where he MC’d at The American Express then went on to win two weeks later at Torrey Pines.
A likely worn out Reed still took the appearance fee to fly out to the Middle East the next week where he eeked out a made cut (T-66th) at the Saudi International on the European Tour.
Reed’s now won in four straight calendar years and has nine for his career.
How fitting would it be for a class act like Reed to win at a place called The Concession Golf Club? I’m sure social media would have a field day.
The 30 year old ranks second on the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting (.282). He won in Florida and on Bermuda greens in 2014 at the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral.
As long as he avoids the water, this appears to be a place where Reed’s inconsistencies tee to green (particularly off the tee) won’t be too magnified. Plus, with a dry forecast, let’s keep our fingers crossed for no embedding controversies.