The 2024 U.S. Open’s missed cut marked the end of Patrick Reed’s  streak of 41 consecutive major appearances since the 2013 Open Championship. The golfer has delivered stunning highlights, but winless performances. Like, then again, at the LIV Golf Adelaide event, Reed achieved a spectacular hole-in-one on the par-three 12th hole, known as the “Watering Hole,” which led to a lively celebration with fans. However, despite this bonus, he concluded the round with a one-over 73, indicating inconsistency in his overall play.

Skip a few more events, and Patrick Reed was so close to wearing the green jacket meant for him, but the chance slipped on the 17 hole. He needed a similar stroke of skill and luck on the 18 to present himself with a chance in the playoffs, but it evaded him, forcing him to rest at 3 place, two strokes behind McIlroy and Rose and 1 stroke ahead of Scottie Scheffler in 4.

Speaking to the press after the near-miss, Reed was adamant that there was only one reason for his loss. His putting. According to the 2018 Masters winner, he had constantly been unable to use the greens well, getting lost several times with respect to the slope or surface. “The putter killed me. Killed me this week. Really lost my opportunity to win a green jacket because of the putter. And yeah, I hit it well enough. I felt like I was hitting my putts where I was looking. Even today on the par-5, 13, I felt like I hit a good first putt. Seemed like it wiggled a hair left quickly on me, and when approximate they get that glassy, they can get away from you.” Reed stated.

In terms of putting, Reed’s numbers are good but not better than others on the leaderboard. These fine margins are what dictate the game in the end. DeChambeau and Sungjae Im recorded fewer putts per green compared to Reed, while McIlroy and Scheffler both carded the same number. Reed also three-putted twice during the four-day stint at Augusta. Imagine if both the three-putts were two-putts. He would have had the chance to make the playoffs for the title.

He further explained, “I thought I hit a good second one. It was one of those things that the putter cost me this week, but the good thing is, hey, ball-striking is there, and even when I’m not really feeling like I have it all that I need this week, I still had a chance. Had an outside chance, I felt like going into today, and really, I still had a chance today.”

Seems like, quipment problems are a recurring problem for the golfer. In 2023, Patrick Reed gave himself plenty of birdie chances in the second round of the Indonesian Masters, but his putter played both hero and villain – “Dr. Jekyll” on some greens, “Mr. Hyde” on others, as he put it. For this Masters, the eagle at 17 on day 4 was a brilliant feat. But what made it difficult for Reed to gain momentum during the tournament was his ten bogeys during the four days. These ten bogeys accounted for 14% of his holes dented his bid for the second Masters.

Patrick Reed’s so-close yet so-far 2025 Masters

A steady 71 on Thursday put him in a position to strike, and Patrick Reed followed it up with a solid 70. As the weekend approached, his 69 pushed him into the thick of the action, 9-under and within reach of the lead. On Sunday, a composed 3-under 69 meant Reed gave it everything—but two strokes was all that separated him from the Masters crown. Though not a winner, his effort at Augusta proved he’s always a threat when the final putts fall.

So, Reed will obviously be thinking that the 2025 Masters was a missed opportunity and that he should have made use of it better. At hole 18, he remembers talking to his caddie on – what could happen and what is needed.

“That’s the first thing Kess said when we were on the last. I looked at the leaderboard, saw that, all right, I can give this putt a really good run at it, try to make birdie there. But a birdie doesn’t do anything. I knew Rory hit the fairway on 18, and so I sat there and just thought to myself, hey, give this — try to make the putt, but at the same time make sure it’s just a kick-in.” The nine-time PGA Tour winner stated.

But Kessler Karain made sure that his brother-in-law stayed focused on what was happening right in front of him rather than what could be.  “First thing he said to me is, hey, we keep doing what you’re doing, you’re going to have another one of these. The game is where it needs to be. I’m doing things the right way. Now it’s just put it all together and make some putts.” Reed recalled the conversation.

Either way, we can calm down because a third-place finish at the Masters against such a competitive field is praiseworthy. Reed also remains the highest-placed LIV Golfer on the leaderboard, a feat that is well-received by fans of the Saudi-backed tour. But the real question remains – Can Patrick Reed win another Masters title? Drop your calculations in the comments below!