Reed wins Tournament of Champions

American wins 4th PGA Tour title before the age of 25, joining exclusive club

Patrick Reed
Patrick Reed won the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in a play-off
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Patrick Reed defeated Jimmy Walker in a play-off at the PGA Tour's Hyundai Tournament of Champions to move to 14th in the world ranking

Patrick Reed defeated Jimmy Walker in a play-off at the PGA Tour's Hyundai Tournament of Champions to move to 14th in the Official World Golf Ranking.

The American shot a final-round 67 at Kapalua's Plantation Course to take the tournament to extra holes after Walker failed to birdie the par-5 18th.

On the first play-off hole, the 18th, Walker's heavy-handed third went through the green and Reed hole his 18-foot birdie putt to land his fourth PGA Tour title.

Only four players - Reed, Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia and Sergio Garcia - have won four PGA Tour titles before their 25th birthday.

With four holes to go, though, that scenario looked extremely unlikely, with the 24-year-old four shots behind Walker.

But he birdied 15, holed out for eagle at 16 and offset a bogey at 17 with a two-putt birdie at 18.

Walker, meanwhile, struggled on the back nine, and came home in level-par to tie Reed's 21-under-par clubhouse total.

Jason Day, who started the final round eight shots off the lead, compiled a course record-equalling 62 to miss out on the play-off by one shot, as did Russell Henley, whose valiant five-birdie finish wasn't quite enough.

Earlier in the day, Chris Kirk, who started the final round in last place, shot a 11-under-par 62 to set a new record and move to 14th on the leaderboard.

Despite those phenomenal rounds, the plaudits belong to Reed, who isn't too far away from becoming a top-five player.

"My confidence levels are really high, it's been a great calendar year," said the Texan.

"But at the same time I need to keep working at my game, tighten up some things and continue moving forward.

"Everyone gets on a hit streak - the main thing is to stay consistent and keep moving forward."

Hyundai Tournament of Champions Plantation Course, Kapalua, Hawaii Jan 9-12, purse $5,700,000, par 73

1) Patrick Reed - 67-69-68-67 = 271 $1,140,000 2) Jimmy Walker - 67-68-67-69 = 271 $665,000 T3) Jason Day - 70-69-71-62 = 272 $332,666.67 T3) Russell Henley - 65-70-70-67 = 272 $332,666.67 T3) Hideki Matsuyama - 70-66-66-70 = 272 $332,666.67 6) Sang-Moon Bae - 66-69-69-70 = 274 $213,000 7) Zach Johnson - 68-67-73-67 = 272 $190,000 T8) Robert Streb - 67-69-71-69 = 276 $175,000 T8) Brendon Todd - 69-67-69-71 = 272 $175,000

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Nick Bonfield
Features Editor

Nick Bonfield joined Golf Monthly in 2012 after graduating from Exeter University and earning an NCTJ-accredited journalism diploma from News Associates in Wimbledon. He is responsible for managing production of the magazine, sub-editing, writing, commissioning and coordinating all features across print and online. Most of his online work is opinion-based and typically centres around the Majors and significant events in the global golfing calendar. Nick has been an avid golf fan since the age of ten and became obsessed with the professional game after watching Mike Weir and Shaun Micheel win The Masters and PGA Championship respectively in 2003. In his time with Golf Monthly, he's interviewed the likes of Rory McIlroy, Justin Rose, Jose Maria Olazabal, Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington, Lee Westwood and Billy Horschel and has ghost-written columns for Westwood, Wayne Riley, Matthew Southgate, Chris Wood and Eddie Pepperell. Nick is a 12-handicap golfer and his favourite courses include Old Head, Sunningdale New, Penha Longha, Valderrama and Bearwood Lakes. If you have a feature pitch for Nick, please email nick.bonfield@futurenet.com with 'Pitch' in the subject line. Nick is currently playing: Driver: TaylorMade M1 Fairway wood: TaylorMade RBZ Stage 2 Hybrid: Ping Crossover Irons (4-9): Nike Vapor Speed Wedges: Cleveland CBX Full Face, 56˚, Titleist Vokey SM4, 60˚ Putter: testing in progress! Ball: TaylorMade TP5x