Four years ago at Gleneagles he humbled Henrik Stenson. Two years ago at Hazeltine he cut Rory McIlroy down to size and now at the 2018 Ryder Cup Patrick ‘Captain America’ Reed is keen to tackle ‘Mr. Ryder Cup’ – Ian Poulter.
Reed made his Ryder Cup debut in 2014 at Gleneagles and while on a losing side, he could be proud being among just four Americans to win the lop-sided Sunday Singles in defeating Stenson 1up.
In 2016, it was Reed winning 1up over McIllroy in the very opening Sunday Singles encounter that continued the American dominance in winning the 44th Ryder Cup.
While history records Reed won, it was the nature of he and McIlroy”s encounter that still has golf fans talking 24-months later as Reed knew he would be asked in attending the Le Golf National media centre on the outskirts in Versailles.
Rory McIlroy and Patrick Reed at the 2016 Ryder Cup
Reed, and went onto the win the Masters earlier this year, was asked if he has ever been so ‘amped-up’ for a game of golf against Europe’s leading 2016 qualifier.
And reliving his 17 holes head-to-head showdown with McIlroy, Reed revealed a key part then vice-captain, Tiger Woods played in the Texan’s victory.
“I didn’t think I could ever get that amped up. I was so — just so through the roof, that during warm-ups, it’s one great thing with Tiger being the assistant captain. He’s watching me warm up and he’s just like, He needs to calm down. He needs to chill out. I was hitting the ball sideways. I was just like, let go,” said Reed.
“Tiger was just kind of following me, pulled me aside. Kind of cracked a little joke to calm me down a little bit, and I was able to bring that adrenaline level down to manageable rather than sitting there on high rev.
Patrick Reed wins 1up over Rory McIlroy in their ‘amped up’ Hazeltine showdown
“It’s something that was hard to, you know, make sure you stayed in that mind frame and also that level you could play. You get so amped up, it’s hard. It’s hard to figure out how far you’re going to hit the golf ball but at the same time, if you’re so even keeled on the other direction, it’s hard to get yourself up to get going. You only have 18 holes.
“The good thing is I’ve been able to manage that really well, and luckily I was able to have Tiger there to kind of help me out there on Sunday.
“You know, once that match was over against Rory, there was a sigh of relief, not only to win the match, but also Rory and I, just the amount of energy physically, but mentally that we put out on that 18 holes; you know, it was — we were glad that — well, I was glad that it ended the way it did, but I think we were both glad that we went out and played the great golf that we did and able to show the passion that we had for each side’s team, each side’s country and go out and play the golf we did to finish off the year.”
And while McIlroy will be no doubt trying to get even this week, and that’s if the two captains were to choose them as rivals for the Sunday Singles, Spieth was asked if he fancied tacking Ian Poulter.
“It would always be great playing Poults,” said Reed.
Ian Poulter – The photo needs no caption!
“We have been kind of looking at the guys on the team, with how stacked each team is from top to bottom on the U.S. side and the European side, I’ll take any of them. All of the guys are playing some great golf. I’ve always been the type that I want to go up their best guy, and so on Sunday, I want to go up against who whoever is playing the best that week.
“I love that challenge and I love to go out and go out and play their guy, and the first year it was Stenson. Last year it was Rory.
“So it’s just one of those things that I enjoy going out and playing the guys that are playing the best, but you know, the great thing I feel like with both squads this year is it doesn’t matter if you’re the guy who got in on points as No. 1 or if you’re the last pick of the captain; it does not matter. I mean, any one of those guys, they play the golf they are capable of, they are going to be hard to beat no matter what.
