AUGUSTA, Ga. — Two of probably the most recognizable walks within the sport of golf will traipse to the primary tee on Sunday with historical past splaying in each path. Patrick Reed at 14 below will sidle as much as the starter together with his burly, lumbering gait prepared for main championship victory No. 1. Rory McIlroy, at 11 below, will bounce and bob his approach by way of the patrons en path to what he hopes would be the closing leg of the profession Grand Slam. Two alphas jousting for a very powerful prize in golf after a lusty Saturday through which we might have gotten greater than we bargained for.
McIlroy teed off first in Spherical 3, and after a sluggish begin, poured in wholesome birdie putts at Nos. 3 and 4. After almost taking down the stick on the par-3 sixth for an additional chook, McIlroy began strutting so laborious I used to be briefly apprehensive his hip flexors could not deal with the bend in his knees. He obliterated a drive 343 yards on the seventh and chipped in for eagle on the eighth, which elicited a mighty roar. Poof, Reed’s five-shot benefit over the four-time main winner was gone as each sat at 9 below for the week.
After a par on the ninth, Rory walked to the tenth tee and stared down the massive leaderboard over No. 18 out to his proper. He learn purple, and its outcomes happy him. He and Reed had been tied. As he teed his ball up on the tenth tee field, 27 holes from historical past, the menacing clouds opened barely. For some, it may need appeared a curse. However for McIlroy, who has burned on thick, moist programs prior to now, it appeared a pleasant omen. It felt necessary, too. I am unsure why, however the climate on Saturday at Augusta Nationwide felt prefer it does when Rory wins majors. I do know that appears like a totally insane factor to say, however everybody I walked with agreed.
Nevertheless, Reed, who has by no means discovered a lot success on this golf course, doubled down on his first two days. Birdies at Nos. 8, 9 and 10, and the lead was his as soon as once more. McIlroy stalled and made an enormous mistake on No. 13. He overcooked his strategy into the straightforward par 5 and located himself wading by way of the azaleas. A dicey chip out and up and down saved par, however the Ulsterman teetered a bit.
In the meantime, Reed revved up. Following a bogey at No. 12, he threw an over-his-head fist pump at No. 13 after an eagle. McIlroy wanted one thing coming house, and he knew it. Then he bought it. An up-and-down birdie from 94 yards at No. 15 bought him to 10 below and no less than gave Reed one thing to consider. If he thought-about it a cost, he did not present it. Reed chipped in for one other eagle on No. 15 earlier than giving one again on No. 16. McIlroy desperately wanted a detailed, which he bought with a birdie for 65 on No. 18, punctuated with a proper jab. Reed’s lead was simply three going into Sunday.
The birdie additionally assured him the ultimate tee time of the 2018 Masters with Reed. After their Ryder Cup heat-seeker two years in the past, I’ve to assume they’re each a bit giddy about that. And if Saturday’s movement was a preview of what we’re getting on Sunday, then I am unsure we’re ready for what we’re getting on Sunday.
For the whole thing of their press conferences within the aftermath, each golfers insisted that the top of this event is about enjoying the course and that the remainder of the sphere continues to be within the combine. It is true that Rickie Fowler is 5 again, Jon Rahm is six again and Henrik Stenson is seven again. However what McIlroy did proper after his spherical ended revealed his true emotions. He is aware of that finally he’ll solely have to determine tips on how to get round Reed if he needs the Slam, and he fired a psychological flare to see if it will take.
“I am actually excited to go on the market tomorrow, present everybody what I’ve bought, present Patrick Reed what I’ve bought,” McIlroy stated on CBS. “You realize, all of the strain is on him tomorrow. He went to Augusta State, he is bought a number of assist right here, and I am hoping to return in right here and spoil the occasion.”
This isn’t Rory’s first rodeo. He understands that if he can wedge his approach inside Reed’s head at any level on Sunday, he can pull the curtains on what has been a spectacular present from a United States Ryder Cup hero. Following a popped-collar-wearing, bogey-free 65, he took the very first microphone he noticed and set the tone for Sunday. That is perhaps simply as necessary as what McIlroy does on the course on Sunday.
Each went on to insist later that Sunday shouldn’t be a heads-up match. However it’s. And with it comes probably the most picturesque backdrop in all of sports activities. Sooner or later we’ll cease getting outrageously good storylines to punctuate majors and crew occasions. Sunday is not going to be that day.
“There’s a number of stuff that you are able to do at Ryder Cup that you may’t do at Augusta Nationwide,” Reed stated of the distinction in Sunday’s festivities from their bout at Hazeltine in 2016. “It may be electrifying. The followers are going to be able to go, they’ll be able to cheer for whoever is making putts, whoever is making birdies or pulling off pictures.”
McIlroy, who’s second on the PGA Tour in closing spherical scoring common this season, has clearly been right here earlier than, kind of. He took a four-stroke lead into the 2011 Masters closing spherical and shot a 43 on the second 9. He hasn’t been again into the sector at this occasion in an actual, significant approach since that day.
“I have been ready for this opportunity, to be sincere,” stated McIlroy. “I all the time have stated that, , 2011 was an enormous turning level in my profession. It was the day that I spotted I wasn’t able to win main championships, and I wanted to replicate on that and understand what I wanted to do otherwise. However now I’m prepared. I realized quite a bit from it. I am blissful to be within the closing group.”
If there’s something Reed loves greater than looking for monster trophies, it is conserving a hungry opponent from feasting. McIlroy craves the Grand Slam as a lot as anybody in golf craves something, and no person would fairly beat him and preserve him from placing his palms by way of some inexperienced cuffs than Reed. He revels on this. It’s one in every of his nice qualities as an athlete and might be one of many myriad causes he is so elite in Ryder Cups.
So in that sense, it is good for him that he will get McIlroy. However I am unsure he understands what’s in retailer over that closing 9. McIlroy is aware of. He is been there, completed that. Even at this course, although it went poorly. Reed has pounded in Ryder Cups, however there’s all the time a fallback plan there. Out right here, you are on their lonesome. It is the apex of independence. He claimed to be pressure-proof on Saturday, although.
“I imply, I awakened this morning, felt effective,” stated Reed. “Did not really feel any strain. Simply got here out and tried to play some golf. And I consider that is how it’ll be tomorrow. Get up and simply come out and play golf and no matter occurs, occurs. I am not going to be there specializing in Rory or actually specializing in any of these guys. I am simply going to exit and attempt to play the golf course and attempt to play some good golf.”
Time will inform if that is a very good technique.
“I really feel like all elements of my recreation are in actually fine condition, and I am far more relaxed,” countered Rory. “This is not my first time on this place now. I have been in a position to shut the deal a couple of occasions earlier than this, and I’ve that to fall again on tomorrow. I’ve bought a number of expertise in these positions and expertise that I’ve realized from, good and unhealthy. I really feel like all of these experiences will assist me tomorrow.”
I do not need to get too deep within the press convention physique language-reading recreation, however McIlroy spoke as if he meant this on Saturday night time. Reed spoke as if that is what he was purported to say. Reed would not lack for confidence in fact, however no person, together with Reed, is aware of how wild eyed he’ll get within the hearth at 5 p.m. on Sunday. No one.
So we all know each are enjoying nice golf. And we all know each are having nice seasons. Largely, we all know that each of those guys are alphas, the primary guys out at a Ryder Cup. However who would be the omega? That is the query. Who will stand final on Sunday night in entrance of Sergio Garcia and put on inexperienced? Who will grow to be the 52nd human being to win the Masters Event?
No matter occurs, with these two, they will placed on a present.
“I feel we’ll clearly nonetheless be feeling it,” stated McIlroy. “It is the final spherical of a serious championship, and … Patrick goes for his first and I am going for … one thing else. It may be good enjoyable”
Sure it’s. As McIlroy cleaned up his birdie on No. 15 on Saturday and marched nearer and nearer to historical past, his father Gerry stood subsequent to us within the gallery. When the putt fell, patrons went bonkers as they will certainly do once more on Sunday if extra putts are falling. Gerry did not clap. He did not roar. He side-eye grinned no person particularly. It was marvelous. A father consuming in unparalleled success for his solely son. A glance that stated, “There are solely so many nice pictures at a jacket, and this is without doubt one of the few.”
Now we get one more closing spherical at Augusta Nationwide with a Slam on the road. Each males who stride to the primary tee on Sunday afternoon can try to persuade us that this is not a couple of Rory-Reed redux. That someone else can win it. That it is all large open. That loopy issues occur at this place. That Sunday leaderboards can change in a rush.
Do not consider them, although. Everyone knows what we’re getting on Sunday afternoon. One of many modern-day greats in opposition to an all-time heads-up golfer who will do something wanting a felony to maintain him from his future. Rory will sleep on the Slam. Reed will sleep on a down comforter fabricated from bald eagle feathers.
Get me by way of the primary 9 on Sunday. The ultimate two hours are going to rock.