Spieth relishing opportunity to go head-to-head against Reed

AUSTIN, Texas — Depending on how things shake out over the next few days, Friday afternoon’s match between Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed could be for the chance to advance out of the group stage at the World Golf Championhsips-Dell Technologies Match Play. Or it could be for pride. Regardless of the scenario, Spieth knows there will be something on the line when the two tee it up. “Even if [the match] doesn’t matter, trust me, it will matter to both of us,” Spieth said with a smile. “… I wish they’d mic us both up, to be honest. I think you all would wish they would mic us both up.” Mic’d up or not, Spieth versus Reed is going to be appointment viewing this week. That’s what happens when you pit two fiery competitors with strong match play records against each other. While this week represents the first time the two Americans have gone head-to-head in match play, they have a history that dates back to the 2013 Wyndham Championship, where Reed bested Spieth in a sudden-death playoff. Spieth later returned the favor at the 2015 Valspar Championship, defeating Reed and Sean O’Hair on the third extra hole. Of course, their history in sudden-death playoffs isn’t what links Spieth and Reed together. The duo is known more for their near-spotless record in team match play where they’ve gone a combined 8-1-3 at the Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity,” Spieth said. “[Patrick] has a great match play record. I’ve seen it firsthand when he’s been at his best. It will be an exciting Friday afternoon. I don’t think the trash talk has started. Typically he’s on my team trash talking, not the other side.” Having played on the same team since 2013, Spieth said he’s learned two things over the years from playing with Reed: That he plays best when he’s mad and tends to come up big when he takes a more aggressive approach. The latter he’s tried to implement into his own game at times, particularly during match play where Spieth noted he tends to take more chances instead of paying attention to the score. Justin Thomas, who’s played on teams with both players, echoed Spieth’s comments about Reed match play mentality. He also pointed out that Spieth, one of the fiercest competitors on TOUR, shares some of those same traits as well. It’s likely why the two players have enjoyed so much success together as a team over the last few years. “I think Patrick has made it well-known that he loves to win and he’s very competitive,” Thomas said. “Jordan is the same way, he’s probably just not as outwardly emotional as Patrick is. Patrick gets fired up out there, which is not wrong, everyone has their own thing. “I think they do so well in match play because of their short games. That just wears on an opponent. When you’re hitting it better than your opponent and he keeps getting up and down for par, up and down for par, and then all of a sudden you’re a couple down, you’re like, I’m playing better than this guy, how is he beating me? That can wear on you, and I think over the course of their careers thus far that’s why they’ve done so well in match play.”

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