Patrick Reed had the best response to critics by winning the WGC Championship in Mexico

Patrick Reed wavered at the last hole but was able to squeeze out the win at the WGC Championship by one stroke, after Bryson DeChambeau and Justin Thomas both faltered.

Patrick Reed has taken plenty of criticism since the cheating scandal lobbed at him at the Bahamas tournament last December, but he answered by hunkering down and winning his eighth PGA title at the WGC Mexico tournament, finishing just one stroke above Bryson DeChambeau, 18 under par and a nearly bogey-free final day, shooting 67.

The cheating scandal has been a distracting story for the 29-year-old American since the Hero World Challenge event at the end of last year. Brooks Koepka and CBS commentator Peter Kostis added fuel to the fire with recent comments just this week. But credit to Reed, who was able to filter out the condemnation and soldier on.

The 2018 Masters winner played consistently all tournament but went into overdrive once he saw the leader DeChambeau play it safe when he approached the 15th, and then gave his lead completely away at the 17th, committing a pivotal bogey right when it looked like he was coasting to the title. Reed poured on the confidence and took full advantage. If DeChambeau’s strokes were sedated at the 15th, Reed’s were a surge of conviction that resulted in three thrilling birdies in a row. Reed’s sureness only dipped once he reached the 18th, with a miscalculated drive that almost cost him the game. He bogeyed the final hole, but he had a margin of one stroke to win the tournament outright.

“The last hole was ugly, but it was what I needed just to get the job done,” said Reed, via the Golf Channel. “At the end of the day, just putting yourself in these positions on Sunday is unbelievable. It’s a great feeling.”

He clocked in the fifth put in the final leg to capture the win. It felt so good after enduring a difficult three months.

“Really at the end of the day, to me it doesn’t really matter,” Patrick Reed said, according to USA Today. “For me, it’s go out there and continue doing what I’m supposed to do, and that’s to try to play the best golf I can, try to be the best person I can, and try to set an example for the younger kids that are out here watching as well as my kids that are watching back at home.

“If I feel like I’m doing that, that’s all I can ask for. I feel like I’ve been doing a good job of that, and hopefully, everything starts smoothing out and going the right direction.”

With the win in Mexico, Patrick Reed seems to be putting behind the scandal that has plagued him for months. Achieving his first PGA victory this year is a great step in that direction.