Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

As it happenedended

Masters 2018 as it happened: Patrick Reed claims nail-biting victory

Relive the final round at Augusta

Jack de Menezes
Sunday 08 April 2018 12:27 EDT
Comments
The Masters: The golfing world gets set for tournament final

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Patrick Reed held off the challenge of Ryder Cup team-mates Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth to claim his first major title in the Masters, as Rory McIlroy suffered more Masters misery.

Reed carded a final round of 71 at Augusta National to finish 15 under par and a shot ahead of Fowler, with 2015 champion Spieth another stroke back after an astonishing challenge faltered at the last.

Spieth had rallied from nine shots behind at the start of the day to claim a share of the lead with his ninth birdie of the day on the 16th, setting up the chance to equal the course record of 63 or even match the major championship mark of 62.

But a terrible drive on the 18th for the second time this week led to a crucial bogey and more Augusta demons, after he squandered a five-shot lead with nine to play in 2016 in defence of his title.

Relive the live action below...


Please allow a moment for the blog to load...

Tee times

15:00—Vijay Singh

15:10—Ian Poulter, Brian Harman

15:20—Chez Reavie, Phil Mickelson

15:30—Tyrrell Hatton, a-Doug Ghim

15:40—Martin Kaymer, Kyle Stanley

15:50—Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Xander Schauffele

16:00—Bryson DeChambeau, Branden Grace

16:10—Rafael Cabrera Bello, Tiger Woods

16:20—Bernhard Langer, Fred Couples

16:40—Xsch Johndon, Webb Simpson

16:50—Ryan Moore, Jhonattan Vegas

17:00—Adam Scott, Daniel Berger

17:10—Haotong Li, Paul Casey

17:20—Adam Hadwin, Hideki Matsuyama

17:30—Satoshi Kodaira, Russell Henley

17:40—Kevin Kisner, Francesco Molinari

17:50—Matthew Fitzpatrick, Si Woo Kim

18:00—Charley Hoffman, Tony Finau

18:20—Jimmy Walker, Matt Kuchar

18:30—Jason Day, Bernd Wiesberger

18:40—Justin Rose, Louis Oosthuizen

18:50—Dustin Johnson, Cameron Smith

19:00—Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth

19:10—Bubba Watson, Marc Leishman

19:20—Henrik Stenson, Tommy Fleetwood

19:30—Rickie Fowler, Jon Rahm

19:40—Patrick Reed, Rory McIlroy

Zach Johnson and Webb SimpsonSimpson's brilliant round continues as he birdies the tenth to move to six-under for the day and three-under overall. He may not be in contention but it will be one of the rounds to remember for the American.

Webb Simpson is six-under thru 10 holes on day four 

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:01

Justin Thomas and Jordan SpiethThe all-American pairing of Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth are away on the first, meaning we're into the top 10 players left to start their final rounds. We're getting to the business end.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:04

Justin Thomas (-5) and Jordan Spieth (-6)It's a cracking start for Spieth as his approach shot into the green leaves him a close-range putt that he duly snaps up and gives him a nice birdie start. Thomas can't work a chance of his own, so has to make do with par.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:12

Justin Rose (-4) and Louis Oosthuizen (-2)Rose makes birdie at the second to move to four-under, but it's a bad hole for Oosthuizen given that not only does he miss a birdie chance, he doesn't even make par and drops an early shit.

Dustin Johnson (-5) and Cameron Smith (-4)Johnson follows Rose's lead and leaves his eagle-putt attempt close to the pin to ensure that he seizes the birdie with his next shot.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:21

Henrik Stenson (-7) and Tommy Fleetwood (-6)The European No 1, Tommy Fleetwood, is underway alongside a man who is sure to be one of his Ryder Cup teammates this autumn in Henrik Stenson, and they're both safely down the first fairway.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:25

Henrik Stenson (-8) and Tommy Fleetwood (-6)Stenson's approach is nice and leaves him a get-able putt for birdie, which he makes look easy to claim an early shot. Fleetwood's approach only just reaches the green stopping dead and leaving a long birdie attempt. He rolls his effort short and that's not a gimme there, but he does well to hole out and save the par.

Rickie Fowler (-9) and Jon Rahm (-8)Fowler looks on concerned with his tee shot as it heads towards the right-side bunkers, but the ball just stops short and he should be ok there. Rahm follows and fades his onto the fairway beautifully.

Justin Thomas (-5) and Jordan Spieth (-7)This really is a great start for Spieth as he follows up his birdie start with another on the second, Thomas, after getting into trouble of the tee, can only make par.

Justin Rose (-5) and Louis Oosthuizen (-2)Another birdie for Rose on four and he's shot out of the blocks to put himself into the frame today.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:33

Rafael Cabrera Bello (+1) and Tiger Woods (+1) 

EAGLE ALERT!

Tiger! On the 15th, Woods sets up an eagle chance and he delicately rolls his putt down the slope from left to right, rolling on and on and finally dropping to the delight of the patrons.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:36

Bubba Watson (-6) and Marc Leishman (-5)Oh dear, Bubba. Lining up an eagle putt on the second, he plays it straight into the bunker. They don't come much more embarrassing than that. He saves face a little with a brilliant chip out towards the flag and should save par, but he won't want to look back on that one.

Patrick Reed (-14) and Rory McIlroy (-11)Leader Reed is away and in trouble immediately as he rests up against a tree trunk left of the fairway. But McIlroy's drive is even worse and nearly clears the out-of-bounds line it's that far right.

Rickie Fowler (-9) and Jon Rahm (-8)Fowler's birdie putt comes up short, as does Rahm's, and both leave the first green with a par in the bag.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:44

Patrick Reed (-13) and Rory McIlroy (-11)Reed is not as close to the tree trunk as he looked, but it's still enough to prevent a full follow through and it means that he plays into the left-green bunker. McIlroy, playing out of the trees on the right, quickly joins him, but it's not the worst bunker to be in. Reed fires his chip a long way over the flag though and nearly off the back of the green, and while he does a good job of getting close, he'll drop an early shot with a bogey. McIlroy does extremely well to save par, and that puts early pressure on Reed.

Henrik Stenson (-8) and Tommy Fleetwood (-5)Both approaches are poor, and to the right of the green, meaning eagle looks out of the question here. Stenson plays a nice chip towards the flag that runs a couple of yards past, while Fleetood chips out of the bunker to the far end of the green. Stenson misses his birdie putt, and Fleetwood makes a nightmare six, and that's simply not good enough on the second today.

Haotong Li (E) and Paul Casey (-2)Oh, Paul Casey! The man who only just made the cut chips in on 11 for a birdie and that moves him to two-under, in what has been a great recovery.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 19:54

Patrick Reed (-13) and Rory McIlroy (-11)Rory! After watching Reed hit his second into the left-side bunker on the second, McIlroy takes aim at the flag and nearly holes it for an albatross! That;s a huge shot from McIlroy and should give him an eagle there, and with Reed struggling, they could be level after just two holes!

Justin Thomas (-5) and Jordan Spieth (-8)After back-to-back pars from Spieth, he's given himself a good shot at birdie on the fifth with a close approach. He nails it and is already up to eight-under, and with Reed struggling he's coming back into this nicely.

Rafael Cabrera Bello (+1) and Tiger Woods (E)Woods is rolling back the years! Another good iron shot into the 17th green gives him a birdie chance that he takes, and that gets him back to level-par for the tournament, which was one of his big aims for the day. Can he get into red figures as he heads to the 18th?

Rickie Fowler (-9) and Jon Rahm (-9)Rahm almost holes out with his eagle effort on the second and that gets the crowd going, with the Spaniard finishing off to clear the way for Fowler. He's made a bit of a meal of his tee shot and that means he has a long putt for birdie, which he can't take, so Rahm pulls level in the pairing and they sit four shots off the lead.

Jack de Menezes8 April 2018 20:06

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in