Golf: Patrick Reed outlasts Bryson DeChambeau for one-shot win at WGC-Mexico Championship

Patrick Reed yells after playing his shot from the fourth tee during the final round of the WGC - Mexico Championship golf tournament on Feb 23, 2020. PHOTO: REUTERS

MEXICO CITY (REUTERS) - Patrick Reed outlasted fellow American Bryson DeChambeau for a one-stroke victory at the WGC-Mexico Championship on Sunday (Feb 23).

Reed took the lead with a tap-in birdie at the 16th hole and went further ahead with another birdie at the 17th at Club de Golf Chapultepec in Mexico City.

Though he bogeyed the last after a wild drive, his cushion proved enough, with a four-under-par 67 sealing the deal.

Reed finished at 18-under 266 for his eighth PGA Tour victory, and his second at the World Golf Championships event, his previous one coming at Doral in Florida in 2014.

"I had to get up-and-down almost every hole on the front nine," Reed said in a greenside interview, explaining his gritty determination to hang in there until things turned around.

"This was the same attitude I bring every time I go to the golf course, something to prove to myself, that I deserve to be in this position, deserve to have a chance to win tournaments.

"And when I get in those positions, being able to deal with the nerves and the highs and lows that go on during a round. It definitely tested me today with the birdie barrage in front of me from Bryson and Jon (Rahm)."

Six players were bunched within one stroke of the lead halfway through the final round, before DeChambeau seemingly seized control with five birdies in six holes. But his charge petered out and a three-putt bogey at the 17th pretty much ended his chances.

He shot 65 for 17-under 267, with Spaniard Jon Rahm (67) and South African Erik van Rooyen (70) two shots further back in a tie for third.

"I three-putted twice and that's the tournament right there," said DeChambeau, who also lamented a couple of poor iron shots. "There's a couple of things I need to tighten up in order to win."

Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy (68) finished four shots behind, while American overnight leader Justin Thomas hit several wayward drives, shooting 73 and plunging five shots back.

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