Sport

Fowler plays his way off US Ryder Cup team

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Patrick Reed had a crystal trophy, a clear shot at the richest payoff in golf and a spot on the Ryder Cup team. He, too, had hoped to win his first PGA Tour tournament of the year but instead suffered a pair of defeats. Brandt Snedeker and Zach Johnson kept their spots.

The Barclays was the final event to earn Ryder Cup points for the US team.

This is a meaningful win for Reed on so many levels.

The American had developed the consistency he needed. This was Reed's first win of the season, although he also has finished in the Top 10 a total of 10 times this season as well. Tag Ridings finished 3 under for the tournament and won $2,121. And he secured a spot on the USA team at Hazeltine that will try to win back the Ryder Cup. "I have not had that feeling in a while coming down the last couple of holes". But he was also teetering on the edge of a Ryder Cup spot, a position he felt was a testament to close calls that often don't add up. "And it takes something like a win to be able to solidify yourself". But Reed had played three under par to take two-shot lead. Despite shooting just 71-70 on Saturday and Sunday, Reed beat Sean O'Hair and Emiliano Grillo by a stroke each, while Jason Day and Adam Scott finished two shots back of the victor in a tie for fourth place. "But at the end of the day, every time we play golf tournaments, we don't play for top 10s".

Reed's victory was his fifth PGA tour title and first in 19 months. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Sports and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world's oldest and largest news organization.

"It was huge", Reed said.

Reed is fourth in points.

In Reed's mind, he should have been six-under on the day.

"If I give myself more opportunities to the green, if I'm in the fairways, I might have had a good chance".

He finished the PGA Tour tournament at nine under overall despite bogeying his last two holes at Bethpage State Park's famed Black Course in NY. He had an 18-foot birdie putt on the 14th hole that would have put him only one shot behind Reed. When you have a chance, you have to got to take advantage of it.

Fowler with a disappointing back 9 slipped to seventh and encountered difficulty holes 15, 16, 5, and 6. I guess because of the adrenaline, it went a little further than I expected.

Scotland's Martin Laird ended two under par, while English Olympic champion Justin Rose and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy finished on level par. A birdie on No. 12 stretched it two shots, and no one got closer until Reed made bogey on the final hole.

Reed, who finished at 9-under 275, wasn't the only player who felt like a big victor.

Patrick Reed's win at The Barclays clinches his second straight spot on the U.S. Ryder Cup team. He didn't specify what constituted a "hot player", nor was there any way of knowing such form would carry over to the matches when they start September 30. To others, he is the still-growing superstar who can legitimately win the FedEx Cup this year and bring Ryder Cup glory back to American soil. He placed his finger over his lips for a "shush" sign that riled up Scottish gallery at Gleneagles and earned him a small measure of respect for his moxie.

stayontheblack.com

Fowler plays his way off US Ryder Cup team