Patrick Reed said earlier this week that he was here to win the Asian Tour’s Hong Kong Open, and not treat it as a warm-up, and he backed that up impressively by shooting an 11-under-par 59 to take the third-round lead.
Five birdies in a row started it and four on the trot finished as the American, who plays on the LIV Golf circuit, jumped to 18-under.
India’s Rashid Khan and Thailand’s Nitithorn Thippong share second place, three behind the leader. Khan shot a 63 and Nitithorn shot a 66.
Defending champion Ben Campbell of New Zealand, the leader at the start of the day, is one back with a 68.
It is only the second 59 recorded on the Asian Tour – a warning that the preferred lie is played to avoid legal standing.
Only 59 more were registered in May when American John Catlin recorded the magic number in the International Series Macau. Surprisingly, Reed played Catlin that day, again in the third round.
Reed sealed the deal with a confident 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th at Hong Kong Golf Club.
“It was one of those days,” said Reed, who is trying for his first win in four years and his first Asian Tour title. “I got up, I felt a little stiff, and I probably had the worst warm-up ever.
“I looked at my caddy, and he went, hey, warming up is warming up, let’s go out and play golf. You go, some of your best rounds have come from bad warm-ups.”
Reed also made birdies on 7 and 13 and was comfortable. He has only conceded two shots in three rounds.
Added the 2018 Masters champion: “I stepped up to that first tee and hit a good drive, and from there, I hit a lot of iron, putts, and made a lot of putts. .”
Reed has been a regular visitor to Hong Kong for the past 10 years and almost won in 2015 when he tied for third place behind Justin Rose.
Khan, who made five birdies on the back, two on the front and is also free, is fighting to keep his Asian Tour card, 90th on the Order of Merit. He needs a big finish tomorrow to take the pressure off.
Australia’s Wade Ormsby, winner of the event in 2017 and 2020, has the chance to add a third title after carding a 64 to sit six off the top spot with one round to go.
For all Link Hong Kong Open scores, click here.
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