Woodland and Reed take charge in the Hero World Challenge

Albany, Bahamas 05 December 2019: After an eventful day at the Albany Golf Resort, it was Patrick Reed and Gary Woodland that took the lead with matching scores of 66 in the opening round of the Hero World Challenge. Chez Reavie, who only got in when Dustin Johnson withdrew last week, made the most of his opportunity, posting a 68.

Reed is in a familiar situation, he also enjoyed a share of the lead in Bahamas last year. Woodland made eight birdies including three straight on either side of his trek. Jordan Spieth, in 2014, was the last man to win the Hero World Challenge after holding the lead at the end of the opening round. But a triple bogey on the 18th set Spieth back to a 75 on Wednesday.

Tiger Woods, a five time winner of the event, set his round on fire when he shot three birdies and an eagle from the 11th through 15th holes. But a bogey at the 17th and a double at the final hole dampened the round back to an even 72. He is in T11 with Bubba Watson.

Woodland has enjoyed a good run in the event, finishing inside the top ten in two earlier starts in this end of calendar year event. He was T10 in 2011 and T8 last year. He needed just 21 putts in the opening round, playing some impeccable golf around the greens. But Woodland is 0-for-4 in converting an opening round lead/co-lead into victory (T12/2011 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Classic, T23/2014 BMW Championship, T6/2018 PGA Championship, 5^th/2019 ZOZO CHAMPIONSHIP).

Reed has been top five at the event in three of his five previous starts. He finished (T3/2014, 2^nd/2015, T5/2017). Unlike Woodland, he has an impressive collection of results when leading at the end of the first round. Reed has closed out victory in three of five instances when he held a lead or a share in it – (Won/2014 The American Express, Won/2014 World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship, Won/2016 THE NORTHERN TRUST, 2^nd/2016 Sentry Tournament of Champions, T7/2018 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions)