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Patrick Reed wins The Masters 2018 despite Jordan Spieth charge
Reed wins his first Green Jacket by one shot from Rickie Fowler
Jordan Spieth's late charge just falls short, finishing two back
Rory McIlroy has a disappointing final day and still awaits a career grand slam
Paul Hayward: Patrick Reed holds nerve despite losing popular vote in duel with Rory McIlroy
And there was Patrick Reed thinking he would have to bash down his Ryder Cup rival, not his Ryder Cup team-mates, to win the 82nd Masters.
Yet after Rory McIlroy’s pitiful surrender, it was Jordan Spieth who produced the miracles to push his American partner all the way to the line, before Rickie Fowler stepped in to keep Reed honest and demand that he par the 18th.
The tenacious Texan nervelessly made the four to taste the glory of his first major title. It was so well-deserved because, even if not McIlroy, then Spieth, with his 64, and then Fowler with his final-hole birdie, put their Team USA hombre firmly through the mill.
Alas, McIlroy only put his fans through the turbines, his game and particularly his putting, falling apart as he trudged in for a 74 and a tie for fifth on nine under. It was not the collapse of 2011, and will not be nearly as painful seeing as he has four majors, but this still represents a huge setback in his mission to complete the career grand slam.
Thank goodness for Spieth and Fowler, as without them, this finale would not have been anywhere near as exciting. Spieth played the miracle role, having given himself no chance at the outset of his round, saying it would be a “stress-free day as I’m out of it”.
But he piled on the pressure – on himself as much as anyone.
The 24-year-old began the day nine shots behind Reed and, when he went through his first 16 holes in nine under to tie the lead, it seemed as if he was to complete the biggest comeback in Masters history.
Reid, however, clinically birdied the 14th to pull clear and, when Spieth bogeyed the 18th, to miss the chance of recording just the third 63 at the Augusta major, Reid’s glory seemed more or less than confirmed.
But then Fowler decided to make it interesting, holing a 12-footer for a 67 and 14 under, which consigned Spieth to third.
Reed hit the green in two and made everyone a bit queasy by prodding his 20-footer more than two feet past. He holed, as anyone who has watched him in the Ryder Cup knew he would, and hugged his wife, Justine. Reed might not be universally popular, but nobody can doubt his competitive heart.
As Reed celebrated, McIlroy was left to reflect on what on earth had happened. He had looked so comfortable on the greens up to this point, building on his transformative display at last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. The week before that win at Bay Hill, McIlroy had seemed completely flummoxed when missing the cut in Tampa Bay.
On the Monday, he sought out Brad Faxon, the former PGA Tour winner who is considered one of the game’s great players. After deducing that there was nothing wrong with the stroke McIlroy has forged under the guidance of Englishman Phil Kenyon over the past few years, Faxon picked apart McIlroy’s mental approach to putting.
The “chat” freed up McIlroy and suddenly the player who was ranked 124th in the PGA Tour strokes-gained putting stats was holing them from everywhere. He leapt to 24th in that putting chart, the best of his career to date and brought that confidence to Georgia. For three rounds, his newfound excellence endured.
He was the fourth-ranked putter for the week going into this final round. Alas, the old weakness was exposed under the pressure, as his entire game crumbled.
It was a nervy beginning for both as they drove into the trees.
McIlroy was the luckier, having a passage to the green. All Reed could see was wood. McIlroy escaped with par, courtesy of a decent six-footer, Reed made bogey and when, on the par-five second, the former hit it to four feet from 197 yards with his second, it appeared as if the Ulsterman would eradicate the deficit in less than half an hour.
Reed could only make par and giddying parity was surely next. McIlroy pushed his putt.
On the third, McIlroy missed a nine-footer, on the fifth a five-footer, on the sixth a nine-footer, on the eighth a seven-footer, on the ninth a nine-footer, on the 11th a five-footer. Of course, not all of these efforts were embarrassing, but a few were, and the point is he had been holing them for fun during his Saturday 65.
Be sure, this was a McIlroy capitulation on the greens. In fairness to his flat-stick – which, following this display, might need to find new employment after a month in the bag – other aspects of McIlroy’s game folded as well.
The drive into the trees on the eighth, which led to an unforgivable bogey on a par five; the timid approach from 130 yards short of the third green; the equally wretched wedge from 103 yards on the seventh.
Granted, there were one or two classic McIlroy moments, most notably the tee-shot to three feet on the fourth. But by the back nine, he was no longer in the top two and he had been replaced as the main challenger by Spieth and Fowler and others, including Jon Rahm, the 23-year-old Spaniard who shot 69 to finish fourth on 11 under, his best placing to date in a major.
For England, Justin Rose finished in 12th on six under after a final round of 69, while Paul Casey came 17th at five under after shooting a 65 which could have been truly memorable but for bogeying the last two holes.
Earlier, Tiger Woods had closed with a 69, his best round of the week, to ensure he avoided his worst finish at the Masters in 21 years as a professional. But his tie for 32nd hardly felt like a success after all the “greatest comeback” hype of the build-up. Instead, it was Spieth who lit up the Georgia sky with his resurrection.
Well done to Patrick
Not what you would call a wildly popular winner, but he was tough, he hung in there and he always had enough today to keep the others at bay. Report and reaction coming up right away.
Patrick Reed wins the Masters!
He putts it and pumps his fist.
Steady on sir
Sometimes, the putt to win #TheMasters is just too goddam exciting... �� pic.twitter.com/Uu8RHl09xM
— James Sharpe (@TheSharpeEnd) April 8, 2018
Patrick Reed
... has this to win...
Misses!
And it's not a gimme
He's got two putts from here
Polite rather than warm applause
he walks up to the 18th
Patrick Reed has delivered with the tee shot
His second shot found the green.
Patrick Reed is on the 18th tee
He is -15. Rickie Fowler is second on -14.
A par wins the Masters for Patrick.
Oh, Rickie Fowler
He has made a birdie on the 18th, he finishes his round. Five under on the day, and his overall score is -14.
Reed has this for par on the 17th
He has done it! Par four. That was gutsy.
But Reed now shows his heart and quality
He has got his putter out from a huge distance and he has hit that hard and true at the hole. Very hard. And very true! It has hit the hole and carried on. Well, well.
Patrick Reed from like 20 yards away, hits the pin on a long birdie putt. A little work left for par.
Rickie Fowler can get to one back if he sinks his birdie putt.
Huge pressure putt for par coming up now for Reed.— Kevin Turner (@ktfuntweets) April 8, 2018
Rickie has produced
a jaffer of a second shot.
I tell you what's
(possibly) happened! Patrick Reed has made a bit of a pig's ear of his second shot on 17. He was hitting out of the 'first cut' and he didn't quite get all of it.
Rickie Fowler on the 18th tee
Has to make a birdie and see what happens I suppose.
Wallops it down the middle.
as does playing partner Jon Rahm.
Rickie Fowler has this
for an improbable birdie.
Nope.
Patrick Reed has to settle for two putts
and a par on 16th but he will be pleased enough.
Just two holes left. And two shots to the good.
I just can’t get on board with Patrick Reed
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) April 7, 2018
Rory also makes his par on 16. He is -9.
State of play
Here is Reed on the 16th tee. He has a two-shot advantage over his rivals. Spieth is 13 under in the clubhouse. Fowler 13 under on the 17th tee,
Worth nothing that Reed had has bogey, bogey here in the last two rounds...
But he has put this on the green safe and sound.
Here is Jordan Spieth on the 18th
He has this for par.
NO! It is not to be. Spieth has a bogey, an unfitting end to a wonderful round. Eight under on the day, a mighty effort.
Meanwhile...
... Reed is plugging away. He's not pulling up trees at 15 but he probably just needs pars from here.
Rickie, with a birdie on 15th, is in good position if Reed does slip..
Jordan Spieth on 18th
And he has hit it into the trees! Oh Jordan. After that heroic, thrilling charge. Hard to see how he can do anything from there.
He looks gutted.
he's a long, long way from the pin. But he knows he has to try and somehow make a birdie.
Spieth has given it a tremendous wallop, and straight, but lands on an up-slope. Par the best he can hope for.
Bloody hell what a shot. Not sure what more he could have done!
Patrick Reed moves into the clear lead
He is -15. Jordan Spieth is on the 18th...
The annual iconic green jacket pic... pic.twitter.com/YQvWFEh6Ob
— Larry Ryan (@RyanLarry) April 8, 2018
Reed on 14
"Please!" he begs as he flies his second shot... and his pleas are answered when the ball lands safely, giving him a slim chance of a birdie and a very likely par.
PATRICK REED BIRDIES 14 and boy is that a welcome addition to his card.
Rickie and Rahm
Are both putting together challenges, each man is three under for the day. Tell a lie, Jon Rahm birdied 13 as well.
Spieth is at it again!
A monster putt here. That was from downtown!
What a player. What a round he is having. Nine Under!
That’s a ridiculous putt. How do you do that ? Mind you I hate putting. I reckon Golf would be more fun for amateurs if you only had to get in the general vicinity of the hole rather than in it.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) April 8, 2018
Rory girds his loins
for what you feel must be a last stand.
Belting shot into the green there with his second, he's put that at a perfect length. Outside change of an eagle.
Rickie Fowler gets up and down
on 13.
Patrick Reed!
He needed that. A really superb putt on 12 from the fringe of the green. What a putt, and he roars with triumph. That moves him back to -14.
And Reed REALLY needed that, in fact, because Spieth is at it again. Yet another birdie on 15 for him, and he is going to press Reed all the way here.
The wheels well and truly off for Rory now
Fails to par putt on 11, he has slipped back to -9.
Both Reed and McIlroy bogey the 11th.
Everyone in the world rooting for Rory, Rickie, or anyone not named Patrick Reed #themasters2018
— Daniel Negreanu (@RealKidPoker) April 8, 2018
And now Reed has missed a putt!
Misjudged it... it didn't break as he thought. He drops a shot and is -13
Rickie Fowler
They're streaming past Rory now. Rickie Fowler has a two on 12, and he has also moved past McIlroy on the leaderboard.
It's Reed -14, Spieth -12, Fowler -11.
Rory and Rahm are -10
�� Rickie Fowler now -11...#TheMasterspic.twitter.com/E03PMuejpc
— The Sportsman (@TheSportsman) April 8, 2018
Patrick Reed continues
his dogged progress.
Right then Rory.
He is on to the 11th. It looks like this.
From where his excellent tee shot is, it looks like this.
And it is not a good one. A long way off the green on the right there. He'll be lucky to make four there.
Bubba Watson
has eagled 13.
The relentless Spieth has a long
putt for birdie on 14th but it slides past.
Are you watching?
And if so, on BBC or Sky?
Why The Augusta National and Peter Alliss are the perfect marriage of medium and artist #TheMasters | @alantyershttps://t.co/66DuDpUetr
— Telegraph Sport (@TelegraphSport) April 8, 2018
Reed and Rory on 10
A par to each man.
Jordan Spieth with the shot of the day
He's absolutely belted one out of the pine straw, onto the 13th green. Huge heart to take that on. I hope he gets his rewards.
He cannot make the eagle, but he does make the birdie. He is now just two back having started nine behind! Wow.
Reed -14, Spieth -12
Fowler, Rahm, Rory on -10
Never mind Rory
the story here is shaping up to be Jordan Spieth. He has just carded yet another birdie, a two on 12th, and it is now he, not Rory, who is the main danger to Reed.
Reed -14, Spieth -11, Rory -10, Rahm -10, Fowler -10
Charley!
Charley Hoffman hits a hole-in-one at the 16th! #TheMasterspic.twitter.com/KkxI7gCtLX
— Coral (@Coral) April 8, 2018
shot!
Hole-in-one!
Charley Hoffman, take a bow! �� #TheMasterspic.twitter.com/3LRZOH0KbL— The European Tour (@EuropeanTour) April 8, 2018
Rickie Fowler
Haven't mentioned him, perhaps because his trousers were so upsetting, but he has also moved to -10.
Back to Rory
Rory has to get out of the trees, which he does, Now he's put an iron shot to the edge of the green on 8. He is there in three. Should be a relatively simple chip.
Reed, who had been in a bunker, with a cracking wedge into the green. He is there in three. Both of the leaders would have had ambitions of a birdie here on the par five but will instead fight to make their par.
Rory's chip races beyond the hole. He'll be doing well to make his par from there.
Reed, meanwhile, has this for a birdie.
I reckon he can put Rory away with this....
No. Misses.
Rory cards a bogie at 8th, slips back to -10
Cute
That’s class.. pic.twitter.com/yaf2uCz78X
— Rob Williams (@rob_zooter) April 8, 2018
Meanwhile
Spieth and Rahm are both at -10...
Leaders on 8
Rory again a little wayward off the tee, to the right. Only by a tiny bit, but...
If you were getting up at 0430 to present @BBCgmu would you stay up to watch Rory in #TheMasters or go to bed so you can adequately do your job in the morning?
— Declan Lawn (@DecLawn) April 8, 2018
I reckon I'd go to bed TBF because it doesn't feel quite like it's gonna happen for Rory at the time of writing. However, it only takes one shocker from Reed.
Rory on 7
He's just a yard off the fairway but under cover.
Good recovery shot! Now he has a chip from the edge of the green. Not the greatest bit of short iron play, but it will do, he is on and he makes his par putt.
But Reed birdied that hole and after seven holes, they are both on even for the day, and it's Reed -14, McIlroy -11.
Some good battling golf from both players but I think it is fair to say that this has not quite caught fire yet.
Really want this masters Sunday to get tense. Could do with Reed dropping a shot or two more to make it spicy.
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) April 8, 2018
Spieth is at it again
He's now onto five under.
Leaders onto the sixth
Rory with a settling putt for his par there, the leader Reed could not make par and has dropped a shot.
Reed -13, Rory -11
The pack
With Rory going par, birdie, bogey, birdie, bogey and Reed also even on the day by hook or by crook, it is time to turn to some of the men behind them,
Jordan Spieth is four under for the day so far. Jon Rahm is one under for the day and, at -10, nicely positioned if the leaders do falter.
Golf commentators - please don't forget to remind us which sport we are watching at every opportunity - so always refer to the *golf* course or to a *golf* shot. We'd be lost otherwise. Thanks.
— James (@jamesaknight) April 8, 2018
Leaders on five: setback for Rory
Reed has a long putt for a birdie but it is never really in the hunt. And Rory has missed a par putt from four feet.
The lead is back to three shots. Rory -11, Reed -14
Paul Casey is having a moment
He has an eagle putt on 15 that would take him to TEN UNDER for the day. What a round. Go on Paul. It's not to be on this occasion but he's got every chance with the comebacker for birdie.
Leaders on four
Reed has made a par on that and Rory a birdie.
Reed -14, Rory -12 after four
Patrick Reed
With a brave putt on the third. From the rough at the edge of the green, he gave it a huge whack, and it's lucky for him it dropped in because it would still be travelling had it not. A birdie. Rory himself makes a rather limp bogey and it is
Reed -14, Rory -11 after three
Jordan Spieth
Another birdie! That on five, and he makes his par on the next hole as well.
"There may be snow on the roof, but there's fire in the grate" – Peter Alliss on Fred Couples.
Add Alliss to the list of people who talk how you'd love to write. #Masters2018pic.twitter.com/yvqgreHQt8— Vithushan Ehantharajah (@Vitu_E) April 8, 2018
Jon Rahm
is getting something going. He's two under through three and that takes him to -10.
Rory on two
Lovely stuff. Fine drive, even better iron shot and he is within a few feet of an eagle.
But he has missed something of a sitter for that eagle, and has to settle for a birdie. Shame. Even still, he moves to within a shot of the lead.
Rory -12, Reed -13 after two
Jordan Spieth
is two under for the day and would love to see Reed make a couple more blunders.
Paul Casey
has birdies on 11 and 12 to put a nice shine on his round. Paul is about to take on the 13th.
Rory Hole One
1st tee at Augusta: spectators pro-Rory McIlroy by about four to one over Patrick Reed - the local anti-hero.
— Paul Hayward (@_PaulHayward) April 8, 2018
Dodgy drive!
Reed's was not great either.
Here's what the final pair are looking at.
Both in the sand now! Not an encouraging start for either of these.
But Rory has managed to get up and down and that is a very fine recovery to save his par.
Reed, however, bogeys the first and drops a shot right out of the gate.
Patrick Reed tees off
That shirt alone is enough to make me want Rory to win.
Bubba boo-boo
Hope for us all. Bubba Watson putting into a bunker ⛳️
— Alan Smith (@9smudge) April 8, 2018
Bubba Watson with the putt right into the bunker. One of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. #TheMasterspic.twitter.com/a4wf49l1fC
— Sports Burd �� (@Sports_Burd) April 8, 2018
Of the 7 men back in the clubhouse at time of writing
five are under par for the day. Phil Mick shoots 67
Tiger Woods has eagled 15!
There was a lot of optimism about him coming into the weekend, has not quite worked out, but still a few moments of magic. Three under for the day.
Rickie's pants, then
Trousers not withstanding, he's safely away on the first tee.
Ricky Fowler is same shade of NikNaks as Trump
— Antoinette Muller �� (@mspr1nt) April 8, 2018
Jordan Spieth
Has birdied the second as well.
My man Webb Simpson, however, has given back a shot. But he has an eagle putt here on 14 and he's put that close enough to be strongly fancied for a birdie.
Paul Casey
He's three under today, not too shabby.
Rickie Fowler's trousers
Goodness gracious. A vivid tangerine.
The man reflects
Jordan Spieth
is off and running, and he's birdied the first.
Tiger there
with his caddy, or some bloke who is here to do a bit of decorating, it's never quite clear.
Not sure why we aren't covering this
Absolutely world class scenes at Henlow greyhounds. Trap 5 finds himself in the middle of the track. Absolutely belts it across to rejoin the race but finds a pond instead. I'm dead. pic.twitter.com/AQOFjkOaIu
— Stephen Fletcher (@sfletcher24) April 8, 2018
special
Gary Player is on BBC
Slapping himself in the face and yelling about how he can squat 380 pounds. Eilidh Barbour wearing a clear "make no sudden movements" face.
Gary Player is really going off on one here on BBC #TheMasters
Haha. Cracker.
"We're gonna be wasting water and wasting fertiliser."
��— The Ginger Pirlo™️ (@TheGingerPirlo_) April 8, 2018
Wot?
Gary Player off his long run on the BBC’s Masters coverage. An extraordinary combination of @KingJames, wasted water, labour and machinery. pic.twitter.com/7l3kOAc0aj
— Ade O'Connor (@adeoconnor) April 8, 2018
Hello! Phil is putting something together
The great man birdied 13 and 17, and the meat in that little sandwich was an eagle on 15. That all adds up to five under today.
Webb Simpson has eagled the next one as well!
Not bad, eh?
Chilly there in the morning
Rain seems to have passed through.
Jason Day is on the first tee
He was runner up here in 2011.
6.30pm
Right then. Things are starting to get real.
We're now seeing guys who are one-under
for the tournament about to tee off. Back shortly.
Webb Simpson
is having a nice round today, he is three under today - after eagling the seventh!
Here he is playing the par three with his son earlier in the week.
and here is his wife Dowd, with another child o' theirs
They look a nice family. Good luck to them all.
Cap the lot
Even with a little rain it doesn’t get better than Saturday at Augusta National pic.twitter.com/eLhxgo1j7N
— Mountaineer (@howards_knob) April 8, 2018
A mixed bag for Tiger so far
Two birdies, but two bogeys, including the seventh. To the 8th!
Bernard Langer
Who has given us so many wonderful and agonising moments in his long, storied career, is on the sixth. Here is what the veteran Bavarian beholds.
Vijay Singh is round Amen Corner
And at three under on the day, he is about to tackle the 14th.
Here's Phil Mick
on the second earlier.
Adam Scott is on the tee right now
Here is what he is looking at on the first.
Adam won it here in 2013, of course. nice to see an Aussie get through an event without tampering with the ball. TOO SOON YA DRONGO TOO SOON
Vijay onto the ninth
Here's how it looks.
Phil Mickelson
The great lefty-hander is having a handy day: he's three under.
Vijay Singh
who suffered the indignity of playing first today, on his own, because he was in last place overnight, had enjoyed a bit better of a start today. He's one under for the day after the seventh.
Tiger has got through the first in par
Shot a four there.
Tiger is on the tee
16.10 UK time is his tee-off
Early birdies out on course
The final round has already started, headed up by Vijay Singh - the 2000 Masters champion - who started his round 45 minutes ago.
He birdied the par five second hole, moving to +7 for the tournament.
Ian Poulter, who only qualified late on by winning the Houston Open last week, has also picked up a shot with a birdie at the first.
You can follow all the latest scores in the link at the top of the page.
Reed vs McIlroy... they meet again
What a final round we have in store tonight as Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy head out at 19.40, both gunning for the Green Jacket.
They've got previous, too.
So, this should be fun tomorrow. #themasterspic.twitter.com/amvQcFw7tD
— Ryder Cup USA (@RyderCupUSA) April 7, 2018
Final round preview: McIlroy - 'pressure is on Reed'
Rory McIlroy insists the pressure is all on Patrick Reed as he attempts to overhaul his Ryder Cup rival to win the Masters and complete a career grand slam.
McIlroy equalled his lowest round at the Masters with a bogey-free 65 to trail Reed by three shots heading into the final round at Augusta National.
"It's massive to be in the final group for the first time here since 2011," said McIlroy, who led by four shots after 54 holes in 2011 before collapsing to a closing 80. "I feel like I learned an awful lot that day and hopefully I can put that into practice tomorrow.
"I've been waiting for this chance, to be honest. I always have said that 2011 was a huge turning point in my career. It was the day that I realised I wasn't ready to win major championships, and I needed to reflect on that and realise what I needed to do differently.
"But now I am ready. Obviously I'm not in the lead like I was going into that day, so I probably don't have as much pressure. I don't have to protect anything. I can go out and sort of freewheel like I did today, which is a great position to be in.
"I wish I was a little closer to the lead or leading, but I'm in the final group and I've shot 65 on moving day at the Masters. It's all I can ask for.
"I'm really excited to show everyone what I've got, to show Patrick Reed what I've got and all the pressure is on him. He went to Augusta State and has a lot of support and I'm hoping to come in here and spoil the party.
"Patrick's got a three shot lead, I feel like all the pressure's on him. He's got a few guys chasing him who are pretty big time players. He's got that to sleep on tonight.
"I don't feel like there's any shot on the golf course that I can't execute and I'm much more relaxed. This isn't my first time in this position. I've been able to close the deal a few times before this.
"Patrick's going for his first (major title) and I'm going for something else."
