One of the most well-known golfers and golf instructors are officially teaming up.
Swing coach David Leadbetter said during an interview on pro golfer Brad Faxon’s Sirius XM radio show on Monday that he will officially be joining Patrick Reed’s team ahead of the 28-year-old’s return to Augusta National Golf Club next month.
Leadbetter said on Faxon’s show that the defending Masters champion asked him to join his team and that he accepted the offer.
Reed’s wife, Justine, sent a text to Tim Rosaforte of Golf Channel on Monday confirming the hire of the 66-year-old Leadbetter to her husband’s team.
“We are very proud to announce that Mr. David Leadbetter will be joining our team and we all look forward to working with him,” Justine said.
After a poor first-round 77 at the Valspar Championship which consisted of three double bogeys, Reed was seen with Leadbetter on the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort early Friday morning before his second round. It came about after Reed’s wife, who was also his former caddie, called the renowned swing coach last Thursday to help her husband out.
Leadbetter and Reed worked together for 90 minutes on Friday morning. After observing Reed, Leadbetter told the media that he felt Reed’s swing was getting too long, which had also been Justine’s concern. “I wouldn’t say Bubba(ish), but very long,” Leadbetter said.
Reed has worked with two other coaches for several years: Kevin Kirk (since 2012) and Josh Gregory (since the end of 2015). Reed’s caddie, Kessler Karain, told GOLF.com, “He just wants a second set of eyes on his swing. The last couple rounds he’s been a completely different golfer.”
Leadbetter was unsure whether this session with Reed would lead to more consultations. “You never know with these guys,” he said. “He seemed to like it, so we’ll see how it goes. Today was the first time I’d really met him.”
But clearly it worked, as Reed reportedly returned to the course for another lesson with Leadbetter on Saturday morning after missing the cut at the Valspar by nine shots following a second-round 75.
Now, Leadbetter will be tasked with helping Reed get his first win on Tour since his triumph at the Masters last spring.
“He’s been searching a little bit,” Leadbetter said to Rosaforte. “He seemed a little frustrated. He seems very happy [with the progress]. He likes the sensations and shots he’s seeing. We’ll see what happens.”
Leadbetter went on to say to Golf Channel that he likes Reed’s swing and that it didn’t need “major reconstruction.”
After struggling at the Valspar, Reed is back in action this week at the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. With 40/1 odds to win this week, Reed will be paired alongside Sergio Garcia, Andrew Putnam, and Shane Lowry.
