Each week, GolfChannel.com takes a look back at the week in golf. In this edition of After Further Review, our writers weigh in on Patrick Reed’s swagger, the simple answer to the U.S. team’s Ryder Cup woes and a possible change in the way invitations are issued to the Tournament of Champions.
Patrick Reed’s strength isn’t measured in any statistical category. There’s no way to measure bravado, but if the PGA Tour could measure it, Reed would lead that category going away. It makes him one of the most intriguing new figures in the game.
From his bold claim that he’s a “top-five player” in the world after winning at Doral last spring, to his shushing the European galleries at the Ryder Cup last fall, the guy owns some serious swagger. Hey, he wore Tiger Woods’ red-and-black ensemble playing with Tiger at the Hero World Challenge last month and put up a nice little 63.
While Reed possesses a large reservoir of talent, he has an even larger supply of belief in himself. His playoff victory Monday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions will only embolden his beliefs. He’s going to march into the game’s biggest events this year, and we shouldn’t be surprised if he walks out of them with some very prestigious trophies. – Randall Mell
This won’t exactly come as breaking news, but last year’s Ryder Cup can be filed away under “Unmitigated Disaster” for the United States team for reasons ranging from the lack of team chemistry to the player mutiny to yet another loss that never seemed close.
Just three months ago, it appeared nothing good had come out of Gleneagles for the team in red, white and blue. As it turns out, that isn’t true.
Each of the three rookies displayed grace under the intense pressure and might have used the experience as a springboard to bigger and better things. Not that they weren’t talented and capable of climbing leaderboards beforehand, but already one player (Jordan Spieth) has two worldwide wins in the short time since, while another (Patrick Reed) just beat the third (Jimmy Walker) in a playoff at Kapalua.
In the coming weeks and months, the so-called “task force” will meet to discuss the team’s future. Here’s hoping it will be noted that the fresh faces are the ones who have most benefitted from the adventure. – Jason Sobel
Slow play on the PGA Tour can be brutal, but on this issue the circuit’s languid pace is downright devastating. Although it’s been a hot topic on Tour the last few years, the circuit has been slow to add a two-year invitation for winners into the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. There are no guarantees that a two-year exemption would improve the field at Kapalua, but it couldn’t hurt.
Maybe Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who both won in 2013 but not last season, wouldn’t have played the TOC anyway – after all, Rory McIlroy was eligible and didn’t show – but if there’s a chance a change could help why wait? – Rex Hoggard
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