AUGUSTA, Ga. — When you play golf down the road from here for Augusta State University, there is a week each fall when you are invited over to Augusta National to play with a member. Patrick Reed, like all of his teammates, always loved that week; not just playing the famed track, but everything from getting to know the members to seeing the place in its quiet elegance.

Rounds would include college stuff, too, of course, like trying to recreate famous shots from the Masters.

“I think all of us tried that chip on 16,” Reed said, referencing Tiger Woods’ impossible slow roll for birdie en route to the 2005 Masters.

Reed always envisioned himself something of a Tiger Woods. He’s always been talented – he led Augusta State to two NCAA titles. He’s always been confident – he long ago declared himself a top-five player in the world despite little data to support the contention.

He boldly prefers to wear red on Sundays, like his idol Woods, even if he owns just five PGA Tour victories since turning pro in 2011 and has just one top-10 finish at a major to his name. Still, he sees himself stalking the field like Tiger. To have a green jacket slipped over that red shirt has been the dream forever.

“I don’t know how many times on putting greens I was like, ‘All right, this putt is to win the green jacket,’ ” Reed said.

Well, Patrick Reed could very well win the Masters this week, especially after his brilliant 6-under, 66 here on Friday that left him at 9-under for the tournament. He leads Marc Leishman by two strokes.

He won’t do it wearing red like Tiger Woods on Sunday, though.

Nike, which sponsors both Reed and Woods, has scripted out its color schemes so all of its golfers wear similar colors this week – Friday it was white.

Patrick Reed of the U.S. finishes the day on the 18th green during second round play of the 2018 Masters golf tournament at the Augusta National Golf Club. (REUTERS) More

“They’re doing a new thing where all the players stay in the same kind of storyline,” Reed said.

Sunday calls for pink to mimic the azaleas of Augusta. Except for Tiger, of course. He’ll be in his traditional red, even if he is unlikely to be anything but an afterthought by then.

Tiger sits tied for 40th, at 4-over, a whopping 13 shots behind the 27-year-old he inspired. That’s the reality of Woods’ golfing life right now. It’s great to be back at age 42 and competing. The downside is staring up at a leaderboard full of young guns he inspired.

Tiger was all over the place on Friday, finding bushes, creeks and more trouble than he could handle. He was still talking wistfully about contending. “If I play a special weekend, shoot two rounds in the mid-60s, never know,” he said after Friday’s 75.

We probably know. So, deep down, does Tiger. He’s seen firsthand the field of talent around him – six of the world’s top 10 are tied for eighth or better (Reed is ranked 24th). Woods didn’t miss Reed’s fast-dropping score on the big boards around the course. Reed birdied three consecutive holes three separate times on Friday. For the tournament, which includes a 69 on Thursday, he’s birdied every par-5 and has 22 one-putts.

That 66 came on a windy, difficult day when just 16 golfers broke par and just seven broke 70.

“I looked at the board,” Tiger said. “Six‑under for the day under these conditions? That’s impressive. He’s playing great. We all know the kind of talent he is. Just a beautiful putter, just a great combo for this golf course.”

The thing for Reed has been putting his talent and his ambition together. Tiger always had that. Reed is learning it. He said the key to Friday was a birdie on the first hole, which was only possible because he listened to his wife who implored him to hit a 3-wood, not an impulsive driver there. Too often, Reed can get caught up in the moment or the crowd or his own mind. This time he settled and listened.

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