Patrick Reed shoots a bogey-free 68 to open the PGA Championship in 1st action since Masters
NEWTOWN SQUARE, Pa. (AP) — Patrick Reed kept grinding at Carlton Woods close to his home in Texas and played with his young kids as a stay-at-home dad during his break from professional golf ahead of the PGA Championship . Reed's time off since the Masters wasn't all his choice, of course.
He took the hiatus as part of the terms of his decision to leave the Saudi-backed LIV Golf and return to the PGA Tour. Maybe a break was all he needed to get his mind right for the PGA at Aronimink Golf Club . Reed shot a 2-under 68 on Thursday and had the only bogey-free round.
Reed flashed a reminder — doubtful anyone really forgot — of what he'll bring to the Tour when he returns full time. Under the terms of his reinstatement, Reed cannot play in its events until after Aug. 25, which means most of this season will be spent on the European tour.
He already has won twice on that tour this season, but decided not to return overseas ahead of the PGA. Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, did shoot practice rounds last week at Aronimink. Reed's days were marked by windy, warm and rainy weather, three days of mixed elements he said prepared him well for what was ahead once he played the suburban Philadelphia course for real this weekend.
Sure enough, he got windy and warm on Thursday — and overnight rain left the course a bit damp in the morning. “I really felt like it helped going into this week because you just never know,” Reed said. You never know.