Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth
At first glance, Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth don’t appear to have much in common. Reed takes a me-against-the-world, bulldog mentality to the golf course. Spieth is engaging and media-friendly. That contrast in styles is perhaps why this pairing has worked so well.
Reed and Spieth have teamed together at the past two Ryder Cups, going 2-1-1 in 2016 and 2-0-1 in 2014. They have already played together seven times, the most by any American duo in Ryder Cup history.
It was at Gleneagles four years ago that “Captain America” Reed silenced the partisan European crowd, defeating Sweden’s Henrik Stenson in their singles match. Two years later he beat Rory McIlroy on the deciding Sunday, helping the Americans capture the trophy. The competitive, hostile atmosphere that awaits the Americans in Paris fits Reed’s personality perfectly and only brings the best out of him.
The two got to experience how tough it is to play against the other in match play back in February. Reed and Spieth played in the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where Reed won 3 & 2. He joked beforehand that he helped carry Spieth at the Ryder Cup. “I don’t know, my back still hurts from the last Ryder Cup,” he said.
On a more serious note, Reed said it’s Spieth’s consistency that makes him a great match play player. “The biggest thing is he’s very consistent,” he said. “He hits the ball well. He chips the ball well. And he putts it really well. He’s not going to give you holes. You have to go and play some good golf.”
It’s been a frustrating year for Spieth. Winless on the PGA Tour for the first time since 2014, he missed out on the season-ending Tour Championship. Reed, meanwhile, won his first major at the Masters in April, outlasting Spieth on Sunday at Augusta.
Both Spieth (4-3-2) and Reed (6-1-2) are making their third Ryder Cup appearance.