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Patrick Reed risks costly mistake before The Masters despite strong Augusta record
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- Patrick Reed risks costly mistake before The Masters despite strong Augusta record
Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images
Patrick Reed is one of the most consistent performers at The Masters.
The American has built an impressive record at Augusta National, highlighted by his victory in 2018 and a series of strong finishes in recent years.
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However, his preparation for this year's tournament has raised some concerns.
Reed is set to arrive at Augusta without having played competitively since early March.
Patrick Reed's Masters preparation raises concerns ahead of Augusta
Reed's last appearance came at the Joburg Open from March 5-8, where he finished tied 10th on 10-under-par.
The week before that, he competed at the South African Open Championship, finishing tied 29th.
Since then, he has opted not to play, meaning he will head into The Masters without competing for around five weeks.
Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images
That stands in contrast to many of the world's top players, who have continued to feature regularly in the lead-up to Augusta.
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For example, Rory McIlroy played at The Players Championship in mid-March as part of his preparations.
The lack of recent competitive action could leave Reed slightly undercooked compared to his rivals, particularly with sharpness often crucial at Augusta.
Patrick Reed's strong Masters record makes decision even more surprising
What makes Reed's approach even more surprising is his outstanding record at The Masters.
The 2018 champion has finished in the top 10 four times in his last six appearances at Augusta, including a third-place finish last year.
Few players in the field can match that level of consistency at the tournament.
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Augusta National clearly suits Reed's game , as his short game and putting often stand out under pressure.
However, even the most experienced players typically rely on recent competition to fine-tune their form ahead of a major.
By taking a different approach this year, Reed may be putting that strong record at risk.
Whether it proves to be a masterstroke or a costly mistake will become clear when he tees it up at Augusta.
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