Reed continues to flourish

US Tour
  • January 18, 2014

Patrick Reed carded his second successive nine-under-par 63 to claim a two-shot lead after the second round of the PGA Tour’s Humana Challenge.

After finishing his first round at the Palmer Private course at PGA West, the 23-year-old switched to the La Quinta Country Club and carded eight birdies, an eagle at the par-five fifth and a lone bogey in conditions conducive to stroke playing.

Unheralded American Brendon Todd carded a birdie on the final hole to finish with a 63 as well and is two shots behind after his first round 65.

At 14-under, 2007 champion Charley Hoffman was a further stroke back after a second round 66.

“To start off the day hitting a perfect drive on the first and second holes … gave me a little bit of extra confidence in that club,” the Reed told reporters.

“So I was able to attack and be more aggressive off the tees.

“Whenever you start with hitting a soft sand wedge to four feet on the first and tap in for birdie … you just carry that momentum straight through.

“What I’m doing so far is working – 63, 63 – so we’re just going to stick to that game plan, stick to our notes and hopefully close it out.

“My putter is really working. I hit a lot of good putts today, missed a couple, but at the same time I made some. As long as I keep doing that, come Sunday, we’ll see.”

After making his PGA Tour debut in 2009, Todd is still looking for his first win on the tour, but admitted that Reed’s scoring motivated him during his round.

“It just kind of kept me motivated coming in to make as many birdies as I could, distance myself from the pack and get near Patrick,” Todd told Golf Channel.

“I just have to keep doing what I am doing. I’ve got a good team around me. Just keep working on the same things and gain some more experience out here.”

The highest-ranked player in the field, world number six Zach Johnson, finished at 11-under following his second round 68 on the Nicklaus Private course.

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