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Reed sneaks a peak at the silverware on offer at this week’s DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

By Kent Gray
Count on Patrick Reed turning up for his date with destiny, scheduled to start at precisely 12.45pm today from the 1st tee on Earth, wearing his Sunday best game face.

As one of the most competitive players to ever waggle a club, it goes without saying although this week is bigger than most as the 30-year-old has a shot to become the first American to win the Race to Dubai.

But behind the focused facade, know that Captain America is truly grateful. There will only be a smattering of fans at Jumeirah Golf Estates but Reed spoke on the eve of the 12th DP World Tour Championship of his appreciation of the European fans who have embraced him despite his provocative shushing antics at the 2014 Ryder Cup in Scotland and well-documented transgressions since. He’s thankful to have a shot at history and especially grateful to be playing at all given the global complications created by the coronavirus pandemic.

“It would definitely be up there near the top,” Reed said when asked where becoming European No.1 would rate given his 2018 edition green jacket and Ryder Cup pedigree.

“You know it’s always been a dream of mine to not only win on the PGA Tour but also on The European Tour, and to win the FedExCup as well as The Race to Dubai. To be able to get one of those kind of goals that I’ve had set for my career, especially this early, would be great.

“I’ve always enjoyed coming over, I feel like the guys always like having me over here and the fans have always been very supportive.

“I feel comfortable with the way the game is right now. I feel good going into tomorrow, and it’s just one of those things that it’s last event of the year. It’s a sprint. Go out there and leave it all out there and play as hard as you can and hopefully by late Sunday, we have a chance to win not only the tournament but The Race to Dubai.”

A quirk of this very strange year means Reed’s countryman Collin Morikawa could win the Race to Dubai despite this week being his first pure European Tour start. Reed was even down with that.

“It’s just one of those things that shows how well he’s played throughout year in the big events that count on both tours, but at the same time, it’s been a really weird year.

“It’s been a shortened season obviously with COVID and everything that’s going on, and that being said, the guys that are on this tour and the guys that are on the PGA Tour that come over and play, it just shows that you have to play well in the big events. It puts emphasis on playing some great golf, not only just consistent golf throughout the year, but also playing well in the big tournaments, and if you’re able to do that, you put yourselves in position to win whether it’s a FedExCup or even winning here in The Race to Dubai.”

Reed praised both the European Tour and PGA Tour for being able to cobble together decent seasons despite the upheaval created by COVID.

“I think what the PGA Tour and the European Tour have been able to do with the protocols and how we’re able to kind of, you know, limit our exposure around people and put ourselves in a bubble has really allowed us to successfully have a season, and I think that’s the biggest thing. We’re one of the very few that actually be able to, you know, still work and not really be affected too much on what’s going on. We’re truly blessed to have that happen with us.

“With that being said, I feel like it’s been amazing to still be able to come overseas and have that chance to be able to travel over here and play. [When] I was able to go to Wentworth [Reed finished T-3 at the BMW PGA Championship in early Oct.] and see how the things were run on The European Tour, it definitely made me feel very comfortable coming over and playing over here.”

Reed hopes more Americans will see Europe as an attractive option given the new PGA Tour-European Tour strategic alliance.

“You know, I would hope so,” Reed said.

“You can take the easy road and just play on the PGA Tour where every event you’re playing for over a million dollars and coming over here, the prizes fluctuate, World Ranking fluctuates a good bit.

“But for me it’s always been playing for hardware, playing for trophies, trying to win tournaments and being a worldwide player. I’ve always enjoyed coming over and playing.

“I feel like with the PGA Tour and European Tour coming together and kind of working more together is huge for not just the players but also for golf in general. You have the two biggest organisations in golf come together and kind of work together, whether it’s scheduling or kind of bouncing ideas off of each other. And the more everyone can kind of come together and unify each other, it’s just going to make it not only easier for travelling, but it’s also going to make it better, I feel like, for golf worldwide.

“Hopefully more guys start travelling worldwide and start playing more events. I feel like this was a step that is going to help that and allow to happen because the biggest thing is scheduling and making sure that none of the big event kind of coexist and overlap so guys can kind of travel around the world and play on both tours.”