• WGC-Cadillac Championship

I'm one of the world's top 5 - Reed

ESPN staff
March 9, 2014
Patrick Reed is the youngest winner of a World Golf Championship © Getty Images
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Patrick Reed secured his third PGA Tour title in seven months with victory at the WGC-Cadillac Championship - then confidently declared himself "one of the top five players in the world".

With Tiger Woods in the group ahead of him, Reed pulled away early with back-to-back birdies on the third and fourth holes. He made bogey on the 18th to finish with an even-par 72 and a one-shot victory over Bubba Watson and Wales' Jamie Donaldson.

The victory sees Reed became the youngest winner of a World Golf Championship at the age of 23.

Woods failed to make a birdie in the final round for the first time in his career and closed with a 78, matching his worst Sunday score ever. He revealed his back flared up after playing an awkward shot out of the bunker on the sixth.

Tiger's problems are back

Woods back caused him problems again on Sunday at the WGC-Cadillac Championship © Getty Images
  • Tiger Woods grinded it out, but at what cost? He isn't scheduled to play again until March 20 at Bay Hill. But what if his back doesn't cooperate? What if his medical and training team can't put him back together in time? Is next month's Masters in jeopardy?
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Reed is now expected to rise to No.20 in the world rankings - but feels he belongs in the top five.

"I believe in myself, especially with how hard I've worked," said Reed. "I'm one of the top five players in the world. I feel like I've proven myself."

Since 1990, only Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia had three PGA Tour wins before turning 24.

Watson finished with a 68, going bogey-free over the final 27 holes.

Donaldson however hit into a foot on the 17th for his third birdie on the back nine to get within one shot of the lead. From the 18th fairway - after watching Miguel Angel Jimenez go through the green and into the water - he blocked his approach away from the flag and into the back bunker. Donaldson blasted out to just inside 15 feet and missed the par putt. He closed with a 70.

Reed ended up four under for the tournament. Only he, Donaldson and Watson finished under par.

Dustin Johnson, who lost momentum around the turn, made a double bogey on the 18th hole for 72 and tied for fourth with Richard Sterne (71).

Woods went into the final round with a chance to win for the first time all year. However his ball hit a spectator on the opening hole and he missed a 10-foot birdie putt. He then found another spectator on No.3, kicking the ball back into the fairway, only he followed that with a shot into the water and made bogey. Woods made two more bogeys over the next three holes and was an afterthought.

He said the pain intensified after his bunker shot on the sixth. Woods had his left foot in the sand and his right foot flexed against the lip of the bunker.

"That's what set it off and then it was done after that," he said. "Just see if I could actually manage ... keep the spasms at bay."

WGC-Cadillac Championship - final leaderboard

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