The Japan Times - Reed wins four-man playoff to capture first LIV Golf title

Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, led by as many as five strokes early in the final round, squandered his advantage, then won on only the third birdie of the day at the 18th hole at Maridoe Golf Club.

"The biggest thing with relief is to finally win in my home state," said Reed, who lives near Houston. "To finally get that done meant a lot. To get my first win here as part of LIV means so much to me."

The 34-year-old American won last November's Hong Kong Open on the Asian Tour for his first title since a 2021 PGA victory at Torrey Pines.

Reed, England's Paul Casey, South African Louis Oosthuizen and Japan's Jinichiro Kozuma shared the lead after the regulation 54 holes on six-under 282.

Reed opened with a birdie at the first hole, jumped ahead by five after double bogeys by his top rivals, but had five bogeys on the front nine before parring his way through the back nine proved good enough to make a playoff.

"I tried to mess it up," Reed said. "After making birdie on the first I seemed to leave every putt short. Just kind of putting pretty tentative."

He missed a birdie putt at 18 in regulation to ensure a playoff.

"Had a good putt there to win on the final hole of regulation, hit a good putt and it doesn't go in there. Leave it short," Reed said. "So when I had that down there (to win in the playoff) I thought I left it short too but making a birdie at the last always helps."

Reed composed himself at the turn after losing the lead to his woeful front side.

"I told myself the putts have to start falling. For the most part I thought I hit the ball fine. I had just a lot of missed putts," he said.

Kozuma missed a chance for his first victory outside his homeland.

Sharing fifth on 283 were Americans Charles Howell and Harold Varner, England's Tyrrell Hatton and Northern Ireland's Tom McKibbin.

Spain's Sergio Garcia qualified for the British Open, taking the spot available to a top-five LIV season player not already in the field for next month's major showdown at Portrush.

The Crushers, featuring Casey and two-time US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, won the team title.

K.Tanaka--JT