"Field's Bad Boy" Reed's Come-From-Behind Victory "2.2 Billion Won Jackpot~"... DeChambeau 2nd Place

WGC Series Mexico Championship Final Day 4-Under Par '1-Stroke Victory', World No.1 McIlroy Finishes 5th

Patrick Reed is cheering as his victory is confirmed on the 18th hole of the final day at the Mexico Championship. Mexico City (Mexico) = Getty Images / Multivitz Photo by Multivitz

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] "220 million won jackpot."

'The field's bad boy' Patrick Reed (USA) achieved a come-from-behind victory. On the 24th (Korean time) at the Chapultepec Golf Club in Mexico City, Mexico (par 71, 7,345 yards), the final day of the World Golf Championships (WGC) Series Mexico Championship (total prize money $10.5 million), he shot 4-under par to secure a one-stroke win (18-under par 266). This marks his 8th PGA Tour win, six months after the first round of the playoffs, The Northern Trust, last August. The winner's prize money is $1.82 million (22.2 billion won).

Reed started from a tie for second place and combined five birdies with one bogey. After birdies on the 1st hole (par 4) and 12th hole (par 4), he swept three consecutive birdies from the 15th to the 17th holes. Especially, the 5.4-meter birdie on the 17th hole (par 3) was crucial. On the final 18th hole (par 4), although his tee shot flew into the right-side woods of the fairway, he safely got the ball back onto the fairway and gained momentum to execute a '3-on strategy.' Adding two putts, he made a bogey but ultimately held on to win.

Reed is the player who won the Masters in 2018, joining the ranks of major champions. He joined the PGA Tour in 2012 and recorded his first win at the Wyndham Championship in August 2013. In 2014, he gained more spotlight by winning two titles: the Humana Challenge in January and the WGC Series Cadillac Championship in March. He consistently collected trophies every year, including the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in January 2015 and The Barclays in August 2016.

Patrick Reed is cheering while holding the trophy immediately after winning the Mexico Championship. Mexico City (Mexico) = Getty Images/Multivitz

It is interesting that opinions about Reed are divided due to his unique bad boy nature, unusual family history, and verbal slip-ups. In 2008, during his time at Athens Georgia University, he was expelled from the golf team for so-called 'egg cracking,' theft, and drinking, and he cut ties with his family. He had a strained relationship with his parents who opposed his marriage to his wife, Justin, who is four years older. At the 2014 US Open, he even chased his parents and sister off the course.

Recently, he stirred controversy again over a 'golf rules dispute.' In December last year, during the third round of the Hero World Challenge, a premium event, he received a two-stroke penalty for improving his lie by brushing sand twice with his clubhead near the green in the waste area on the 11th hole (par 5). Reed protested, saying, "If you change the camera angle, you can see that it was not a rules violation," but this only intensified the controversy, accusing him of lacking integrity.

Bryson DeChambeau (USA) finished second (17-under par 267), and Jon Rahm (Spain) tied for third (15-under par 269). Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) finished fifth (14-under par 270), but demonstrated the power of the world No. 1 by finishing in the top 5 in all five tournaments of the 2020 season, including one win. From Korea, Im Sung-jae (22) and An Byeong-hun (29) tied for 29th (3-under par 281), Kang Sung-hoon (33, both from CJ Logistics) placed 71st (15-over par 299), and Lee Tae-hee (36) was 72nd (19-over par 303).