American Reed equals Asian Tour record low
Patrick Reed has fired the equal-best round in Asian Tour history to enjoy the Hong Kong Open lead after round three.
Fellow American John Catlin became the first player to break 60 on the Asian Tour during the International Series Macau on March 16, and Reed also fired an 11-under 59 on Saturday in the $US2 million ($A3.1 million) event.
LIV Golf star Reed drained five birdies in a row to start his round and four on the trot to bring it home, finishing the day at 18 under.
India’s Rashid Khan (63) and Nitithorn Thippong (66) from Thailand share second place, three off the pace.
Defending champion Ben Campbell (68) from New Zealand, the leader at the start of the day, is one shot back and Australian Wade Ormsby, winner of the event in 2017 and 2020, carded a 64 to sit six off top spot.
Reed sealed the deal with a 15-foot birdie putt on the famous par-four 18th at Hong Kong Golf Club.
“Yeah, you know, it was kind of one those days,” said Reed, the 2018 Masters champion who is attempting to win for the first time in four years and claim his maiden Asian Tour title.
“I got up, I felt a little tight but felt ready to go and got out here and had probably one of the worst warm-ups ever.
“I looked at my caddy, and he goes, ‘hey, a warm-up is a warm-up, let’s go out and just play golf’. He goes, ‘some of your best rounds have come from a poor warm-up’.”
Reed also made birdies on seven and 13 and was bogey free. He has only dropped two shots in three rounds.
Khan, who made five birdies on the back nine, two on the front and was also bogey free, is in a battle to keep his Asian Tour card, in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He needs a big finish on Sunday to take the pressure off.
“I feel great. I mean, you know, it’s been very long since I have been in contention playing,” said the two-time winner on the Asian Tour, but whose wins came a decade ago.
“You know, to get a trophy home, I’m really working hard and really enjoying myself right now. That’s all I can say.”
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