Reed ready to go again at International Series Qatar after win in Hong Kong
HONG KONG - Patrick Reed goes into this week's International Series Qatar in red-hot form having claimed a superb 3-shot victory at the Link Hong Kong Open last week, and said it was a big relief to finally get into double digits with a 'long overdue' 10th career win.
The 2018 Masters champion has had a number of near misses, with 10 top-five finishes since joining the LIV Golf League in 2022.
Last week he showed his undoubted talent on the famous Composite Course at Fanling, with the highlight being a sensational 11-under 59 in the third round of the storied tournament, which was the first of three events closing out The International Series and the Asian Tour season.
Going into this week's event, which gets underway on Wednesday, Reed said the victory meant more than just hoisting the trophy.
"That was huge," Reed said. "I have been trying to get that 10th win, get to double digits for a while now, and it has been frustrating because I feel like the game's been there. I just haven't quite gotten over the line. ... My first two years out on LIV Golf I felt like I finished second, third and fourth about 500 times, but never could get on top, so it feels great to come out and feel like the game was where it needed to be, and finally get to the 10th win. It felt like it was a long time overdue."
It will be Reed's first taste of Doha Golf Club, complete with notoriously tricky windy conditions. He has played the front and back nine since arriving on Monday.
“The golf course is in really good shape, and you have to hit fairways," Reed said. "With the rough, the ball never sits up. It always just figures out a way to get to the bottom. And so you know it is going to be crucial to hit the tee shot solid. Hit it straight. And you will have to control some iron shots.
"Because even though the greens are large, if you end up missing a green, it's just not really usually a good spot. So yeah, ball striking is key."
Reed is now up to seventh on The International Series Rankings race.
Flanked by leader John Catlin and nearest challenger Ben Campbell, both LIV Golf reserve players, for the pre-tournament press conference, he highlighted the top talent that is currently playing on the Asian Tour and The International Series, which features 10 elevated events which offer a pathway to LIV Golf.
"For a guy from the States who's always played mainly on the PGA Tour, I didn't have those opportunities to come over and see what kind of talent is over here on the Asian Tour," Reed said. "And to come over here and see these guys playing and see the talent here, the talent and the strength of the field out here is just as good, even though the world rankings and that flawed system would say otherwise.
"Every time I come over, it's a battle. These guys hit it really well, fight really well. And you know, they are all as hungry as all of us are. And I think that's awesome. You have to be on your A-game."
Referring to Catlin and Campbell, he said: "You have to take these two guys down, and if they're playing well, it's going to be a dog fight. So it's always fun coming over and playing against these guys."
International Series Qatar takes place at Doha Golf Club from Nov. 27-30. For tickets and further information, please visit www.internationalseries.com.
(Photo by Paul Lakatos/Asian Tour)