Ryder Cup stalwart Patrick Reed has long owned the nickname “Captain America” for his success as a member of U.S. golf teams. Things went less smoothly for Reed at this year’s event, of course. The top American points getter from the past two Ryder Cups went winless in the first two days, playing just two matches, each with Tiger Woods, and losing both.
He won his Sunday singles match (he has a knack for that) but drew far more attention for his comments afterwards to the New York Times. He opened up on team selections, alleging that he had “no choice” when it came to he and Jordan Spieth splitting up as partners. Reed had nearly gone nuclear in the post-tournament press conference, but Spieth fielded a question directed their way instead.
“I think Jordan could see in my eyes that I was about to light up the room like Phil did in ’14, and that’s why he jumped on the answer,” Reed said afterwards. Times reporter Karen Crouse added that Woods had been Reed’s “second choice.”
The comments set off a firestorm in the weeks after the U.S. loss to Europe at Le Golf National outside of Paris. But this week, Reed tees it up in the Bahamas at Woods’s tournament. Spieth will not be there, but many of his other Ryder Cup teammates will be. In the leadup to the tournament, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard asked the outspoken Texan about his nickname. Did he feel like “Captain America” had lost some luster?
“No,” Reed countered. “Still 3-0 in singles.”
He’s right, of course. Reed is undefeated in Ryder Cup singles, most recently a legendary showdown with Rory McIlroy in 2016 and this year’s takedown of Tyrrell Hatton. There’s no question what it means to Reed, too.
“It’s something that I love and cherish and hopefully will continue playing really good golf when I represent the country and keep on bringing it in those events,” he told Golf Channel. “Being 3-0 in singles is something cool because you always want to feel like you can be counted on toward the end, especially during a Ryder Cup.”
Reed tees off at 12:27 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Hero World Challenge alongside fellow Ryder Cupper Bubba Watson.
You can follow along the Hero World Challenge leaderboard HERE.
