Patrick Reed ends four year drought in Hong Kong
LIV Golf’s Patrick Reed claimed his first victory in four years in the Asian Tour’s $2 million Link Hong Kong Open.
After firing an 11-under-par 59 in the third round to open up a three-shot lead, Reed (34) signed off with a 66 to finish on 22-under for a three-stroke win over defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand.
“Nothing like coming to a place that I know pretty well and love the golf course,” said Reed, who plans to play next week’s International Series Qatar and the PIF Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers the week after.
“I love how it makes me think about golf shots and you have to be creative around this place. So, to be able to come out and play the way like I did on the weekend. I mean, it always helps shooting 59 yesterday, but the biggest thing, the hardest part, was today.”
Meanwhile, Elvis Smylie held off his golfing idol Cam Smith to claim his maiden DP World Tour title with a two-shot victory at the 54-hole BMW Australian PGA Championship.
Just a month after securing his first professional win in the WA Open on the Challenger PGA Tour of Australasia, the 22-year-old kept his cool and closed with a four-under 67 to win on 14-under at Royal Queensland in Brisbane.
Smylie was one of two players to receive the Cameron Smith Scholarship in 2019 and began Sunday's round alongside the three-time event winner in an all-Australian final group, including Marc Leishman.
A son of four-time grand slam doubles champion Liz Smylie, the Australian turned in a blemish-free 32 to take a three-shot lead before holing a series of clutch par putts down the stretch for a bogey-free 67 and a two-shot win.
“To know that I have a job secured overseas now, it feels great,” Smylie said.
“It's a dream come true. I just said to Matt (Clayton, caddie) that I won't forget this day, you know, playing with Cam and Leish there, I looked up to these guys since I was a kid and just being in their presence and compete against them for the title, I've learnt so much and just so grateful and so honoured right now.”
Next up for Smylie is the ISPS Handa Australian Open at Kingston Heath in Melbourne, where Gary Hurley hopes to build on his second-round 67 at Royal Queensland.
The West Waterford man missed the cut by one shot but appears to be getting back to his best after battling mental health issues over the past few years.
In the LPGA’s CME Group Tour Championship, Thailand’s Jeeno Thitikul finished eagle-birdie, carding a 65 to pip Angel Yin by a shot on 22-under and pocket $4 million - the biggest first prize in the history of women’s golf.
Leona Maguire closed with a four-under 68 to finish tied for 42nd on four-under.
Meanwhile, Maverick McNealy claimed his maiden title when he birdied the 18th to shoot a two-under 68 and win The RSM Classic by shot from Colombia’s Nico Echavarria, Daniel Berger and amateur Luke Clanton on 16-under at Sea Island.
