The Joy of Golf: Reed’s big mouth backed up by his brilliant golf

Joy Chakravarty 17:03 13/03/2014
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  • Man in form: Patrick Reed won the WGCCadillac Championship at Doral by one shot.

    We are not used to overt displays of confidence and brashness in the refined world of golf, but Patrick Reed is like a breath of fresh air.

    After slaying the Blue Monster and becoming the youngest-ever winner of a World Golf Championship, Reed proclaimed himself to be among the top five players in the world.

    He has taken considerable flak for it, but I personally loved what he said on TV. And it wasn’t a hollow claim – it was backed by a solid performance.

    The 23-year-old has now won three tournaments in his last 14 starts on the PGA Tour and has joined an illustrious list of names who have three or more titles before turning 24.

    That roster includes Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia and Rory McIlroy. Unlike Ian Poulter, who became a laughing stock a few years ago when he said he believed he was the best in the world after Tiger Woods when ranked in the 30s and before winning anything on the PGA Tour, Reed has some serious credentials.

    Golf is not exactly boxing, but it does need someone who can break the stereotype now and then. We have too many players, who are gentlemen, but who also try to be politically correct all the time.

    Reed did not even say he was the greatest. All he said was that he believed he was among the top-five players, and he is not far from the truth, at least on current form.

    I was a little disappointed when the day after winning at Doral, Reed told the Golf Channel that what he meant to say was that he ‘can become’ one of the top-five players in the world, but what came out was because he had just walked off the golf course with the biggest win of his career, was still on ‘game time mode’ and the adrenaline was pumping.

    A day before his win, the portly Reed was asked about his diet preference and how much time he spends in the gym. And he was honest and refreshing again.

    He said: “Don’t really watch what I eat. Just kind of live life and feel like if I work hard at the golf course, that’s just what worked for me. I feel like every time I have worked out in the past, I’ve gotten real tight and kind of bulked up even more, and I’m unable to really be consistent and make the correct golf swings I need to.”

    If I had to pick up my top-five golfers right now, they’d be as follows: 1. Jimmy Walker, 2. Patrick Reed, 3. Jason Day, 4. Zach Johnson and 5. Sergio Garcia.

    Sorry, but on current form, there is no place for the top-three players in the world on this list.

    Vigilante Poulter
    Ian Poulter was absolutely right in calling Hideki Matsuyama an “idiot” after the Japanese star smashed his putter on the green, made a big dent, and walked off without even bothering to repair it.

    But I just wish he had told him so face-to-face rather than announce it to his 1.6 million followers on Twitter. During Friday’s second round, players were getting frustrated because of the exceptionally harsh playing conditions and after missing a putt, the 23-year-old Matsuyama slammed his putter on the green, which left a gash there.

    Poulter, who was in the group behind and was paired the next day with Matsuyama, saw the incident, and tweeted that evening: “Playing with Matsuyama tomo. He buried his putter in the 13th green 5ft from the hole. Referee had to repair the crater. Because he didn’t.”

    He added: “Why should Matsuyama leave a crater in the green for others to putt over, or have to call to repair the damage. Idiot. “I’m no saint and first to say. But that was disgusting. I wouldn’t bury a putter in a green 5ft from a hole and have players behind deal with it.”

    Matsuyama apologised to Poulter in the driving range next morning, as well as to Charl Schwartzel, Poulter’s playing partner on Friday.

    I am glad Poulter brought the subject up, and Matsuyama, who is a fantastic talent, has hopefully learnt his lesson. But the Englishman should have had a word with the youngster soon after the round instead of making his feeling public.

    However, if you have problem with your colleagues, you try to solve it inside the office.

    Stats of the Week
    113 – Balls in the water hazard during the second day of the WGCCadillac Championship as blustery conditions just added to the newlysharpened teeth of the Blue Monster. For a field of 68, it means on an average, each player hit 1.66 ballsinto the water.

    318 – The final tally of submerged balls in the four rounds at Doral.

    76 – Was the average score at Doral during the second round. In the whole of 2013, the highest single-day average was 75.37, in the second round of the Open Championship. The lowest round of the day was a two-under par 70 by Welshman Jamie Donaldson (above).

    Quote of the Week
    “It’s not his best shot, eh?” 
    The spectator who was hit by with Tiger Woods’ tee shot on the first hole during the final round of the WGC-Cadillac Championship.

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