Patrick Reed has laid low since stealing many of the headlines in the wake of last month’s US Ryder Cup loss, his supercharged comments about his pairings split with Jordan Spieth becoming the subject of much Monday-morning consternation. But in his return to competition, the 28-year-old Masters champion made news for his on-the-course action, shooting an opening-round 64 at Shanghai’s Sheshan International Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead at the WGC–HSBC Champions.
Reed looked almost flawless despite playing in blustery conditions, hitting 12 of 14 fairways and all 18 greens in a bogey-free round. And his score could have been even lower when you consider that of his eight birdies, only one came on Sheshan’s four par 5s. Still, his 64 was the second-lowest first-round score of his career, bettered only by a 63 in the opening round of the 2014 Humana Challenge.
“It felt really good,” Reed said, “because if you can go out and shoot rounds like that in these kind of conditions, you know you’re going to have confidence when the wind dies down and there are perfect conditions out there.”
It’s the first time that Reed has held the lead in a tournament since his victory at Augusta National in April.
In closest pursuit of Reed are Xander Schauffele and Tony Finau, who both posted six-under 66s. This is Schauffele’s third straight start in the tour’s Asian swing, while Finau is also making his 2018-’19 tour debut.
Matthew Fitzpatrick made five straight birdies at the end of his round to post a five-under 67 and sit in solo fourth. Adam Scott leads the Australian charge, his three-under 69 including just one dropped shot. Jason Day shot 71.
Interestingly, the track record of first-round leaders at the HSBC Champions is hardly stellar. Only once in nine starts since the event became a World Golf Championship has a first-day leader gone on to claim the title. But this runs counter to Reed’s own history; three previous times he’s lead after 18 holes on the US PGA Tour and he’s recorded two wins and a second in those starts.
Defending champion Justin Rose finished the day with a 69 and is tied for 10th while new world No.1 Brooks Koepka, fresh off his win at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, shot an even-par 72 to sit in a tie for 27th.
