Patrick Reed and Rory McIlroy will reprise one of the most epic battles in Ryder Cup history when they lock horns in the final group of the 2018 Masters Tournament, Reed chasing a maiden Major title and McIlroy eyeing an historic grand slam.
The first Major of the season was billed as one of the most eagerly anticipated in many years, and the event is certainly living up to the hype, especially on an enthralling third day, which saw Reed, McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood all shoot in the mid-60s.
Nine of the 12 top-ranked players in the world were inside the top 15 on leaderboard after 54 holes, but it was the 24thranked man, Patrick Reed, who stole the show with four birdies and two breathtaking eagles helping him to a five-under-par 67 and a 14-under-par total.
Five shots clear of the field after the eagle at the 15th, where he chipped in from off the green, Reed dropped a shot on the short 16th, soon after McIlroy had turned up the pressure on the leader with a closing birdie to finish off a stunning third round 65, meaning it was just a three-stroke difference heading into the final day.
Fowler is five shots off Reed’s lead in third place on nine under par, while Rahm is one further back on eight under – both having signed for 67s. The remainder of the field, which is headed by Henrik Stenson on seven under par, look too far back to be able to mount a serious challenge to the front three, with the Swede seven shots back from Reed, while Bubba Watson, Fleetwood and Marc Leishman are all eight behind, and will need all of those players in front of them to collapse if they are to be in with a chance of donning the green jacket come Sunday night.
Speaking about the challenge that lies ahead of him, Reed said: I’m trying not to allow the moment to take over me. I feel like I’m hitting the ball well enough, I feel like I’m putting well enough. I just need to go out and play my game and not worry about everything else. It’s going to be a lot of fun tomorrow. Obviously, Rory and I are both playing really solid golf, and to be able to go into a final round on Sunday at the first major and go up against each other is going to be a lot of fun. But really, I’m just going to do my thing, stick to my game plan, and go out and enjoy my Sunday.”
McIlroy lost to Reed by one hole in the singles at the 2016 Ryder Cup at Hazeltine, following a titanic battle that saw both players at the very top of their games, and he is relishing the prospect of getting one back over his rival in the stroke play format of the game.
“I’m closer to the lead than I was starting off the day, which a bonus, especially when you see Patrick go out and shoot 67 and obviously play very well,” he said. “I rode my luck a little bit out there – the chip-in on the eighth hole, finding my ball in the azaleas on 13. Then hitting the tree on 18, and coming back in the fairway and making a birdie from that. I rode my luck a little bit out there today. Hopefully I don’t have to rely on it too much tomorrow, but it was just a great day. To get myself into the final group with Patrick, and have a chance to win another major, I’m excited. You couldn’t ask for much more out of today.”
Scores
202 P Reed (USA) 69 66 67,
205 R McIlroy (Nir) 69 71 65,
207 R Fowler (USA) 70 72 65,
208 J Rahm (Esp) 75 68 65,
209 H Stenson (Swe) 69 70 70,
210 B Watson (USA) 73 69 68, T Fleetwood (Eng) 72 72 66, M Leishman (Aus) 70 67 73,
211 J Spieth (USA) 66 74 71, J Thomas (USA) 74 67 70,
212 D Johnson (USA) 73 68 71,
213 J Rose (Eng) 72 70 71, L Oosthuizen (RSA) 71 71 71, C Smith (Aus) 71 72 70,
215 J Walker (USA) 73 71 71, T Finau (USA) 68 74 73, J Day (Aus) 75 71 69, C Hoffman (USA) 69 73 73, M Kuchar (USA) 68 75 72, B Wiesberger (Aut) 70 73 72,
216 S Kodaira (Jpn) 71 74 71, A Hadwin (Can) 69 75 72, F Molinari (Ita) 72 74 70, M Fitzpatrick (Eng) 75 74 67, H Matsuyama (Jpn) 73 71 72, K Kisner (USA) 72 75 69, S Kim (Kor) 75 73 68, R Henley (USA) 73 72 71,
217 H Li (Chn) 69 76 72,
218 J Vegas (Ven) 77 69 72, A Scott (Aus) 75 73 70, D Berger (USA) 73 74 71, Z Johnson (USA) 70 74 74, R Moore (USA) 74 72 72, P Casey (Eng) 74 75 69,
219 W Simpson (USA) 76 73 70, R Cabrera Bello (Esp) 69 76 74, F Couples (USA) 72 74 73, B Langer (Ger) 74 74 71,
220 T Woods (USA) 73 75 72, B Grace (RSA) 73 73 74, B Dechambeau (USA) 74 74 72,
221 X Schauffele (USA) 71 78 72, K Aphibarnrat (Tha) 79 70 72, K Stanley (USA) 72 74 75, M Kaymer (Ger) 74 73 74,
222 T Hatton (Eng) 74 75 73, C Reavie (USA) 76 71 75, D Ghim (am) (USA) 72 76 74,
223 B Harman (USA) 73 74 76, P Mickelson (USA) 70 79 74, I Poulter (Eng) 74 75 74,
224 V Singh (Fij) 71 74 79