Asian Tour Book 2024

HONG KONG FIRST FOR WEEKEND WARRIOR REED FORMER MASTERS CHAMPION RUMBLES FANLING WITH A 59 I t is fair to say that after the second round was completed on Friday at the Link Hong Kong Open, of the many players in contention, Patrick Reed would not have been considered to be one of the favourites heading into the weekend. Winless in three years, he was a player clearly in the process of trying to re- capture the form that saw him claim the Masters in 2018 and earn the nickname Captain America when playing for the United States in the Ryder Cup. Following rounds of 65 and 68 at the Hong Kong Golf Club – the famous venue celebrating its 135th anniversary – the American was five behind Ben Campbell from New Zealand, the halfway leader and defending champion. Campbell was already 12 under after two days and the chasing pack knew only rounds in the low 60s on Saturday and Sunday would give themany chance of victory. In fact, it was a remarkable round in the 50s, that allowed Reed to storm into contention on Saturday. He birdied the first five holes and made another on seven, to make the turn in six-under 28. He then re-boarded the birdie train on 13, before making birdies on the last four. A 15-foot birdie putt on the iconic par-four 18th at Fanling saw him become only the second player to shoot 59 on the Asian Tour. In a bizarre coincidence, Reed had been paired with his compatriot John Catlin when he recorded the first 59 at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn earlier in the year. That was also in the third round, and he also holed a similar length putt on the last, which like Reed’s broke from left to right – although it was for eagle. Reed started the final day with a three-shot lead, and despite the pressure of needing to perform again after that 59, he closed with an equally fine 66 to finish on 22-under-par, for a convincing three- stroke victory over Campbell. It marked the first time Reed had won the event, in five attempts. Campbell ended his excellent defence with a 65, while Japan’s Kazuki Higa shot a 63 to claim third, another shot back. Australian Wade Ormsby, the champion in 2017 and 2020, shared fourth with Thailand’s Sadom Kaewkanjana. They both fired 65s. Hong Kong’s top golfer Taichi Kho returned a 66 to tie for sixth – his best result of the year, and his best finish in an event which means so much to him. Any concerns that Reed would have difficulty shooting another low round on Sunday were quickly dispelled when he birdied four in a row from the third for a six-shot cushion. And at the turn he had a gaping seven-shot advantage to be in complete control. Dropped shots on 15 and the last while his nearest challengers were making birdies closed the gap, but it remained a foregone conclusion. “Nothing like coming to a place that I know pretty well and love the golf course,” said the 34-year-old Texan. “I love how it makes me think about golf shots and you have to be creative around this place. So, to be able to come out and play the way like I did on the Patrick Reed [right] finished joint third in his first Hong Kong Open in 2015. 122 L I NK HONG KONG OPEN H ON G KON G GO L F C L U B , FA N L I N G NOV EM B E R 2 1 - 2 4 | P R I Z E MON E Y: U S $ 2 M I L L I ON