HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

January 24, 2026

Patrick Reed

Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club

Press Conference

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Q. 67, try to give us an evaluation of the day out there.

PATRICK REED: Obviously at the end, it was definitely solid and good score at the end. There early in the round, just didn't really settle out.

Even after the birdies on 2 and 3, it was just kind of one of those things that the swing didn't feel a hundred percent, but I was missing it where I need to and just relying on my putter to work.

On 7, it clicked there when I hit a really good drive on 8. From that point on from there, I felt like the swing was really solid and I had it locked in, and I was able to take advantage of the par 5s.

Q. You said your swing felt really solid. It does seem that all facets of your game are on point. Is there one specifically, something that's really pleasing you the most at the moment?

PATRICK REED: I think the biggest thing right now is the driving. I feel like I'm driving the ball a little better right now. You know, early this week, just seeing a couple putts go in, after last year, I felt like it was one of those kind of half of the seasons where I felt like I was doing a lot of things really well. I was hitting a lot of putts and the balls weren't going in. There were a lot of burned edges.

Once I saw it go in this week, seems like the putter is back behaving doing what it's supposed to, and allows me to free the rest up the rest of my golf game.

Q. Top 10 last year. Year before, you were runner-up. How excited tomorrow are you at the chance of going one better?

PATRICK REED: You're always excited, showing up on Sunday with a lead. I feel like that's what I feel like all of us live for as players, competitors, to have a chance to win on Sundays and play late on Sundays and just battle out with all the guys. I know it's not going to be easy, it never is, and doesn't matter how big of a lead you have.

Looking forward to tomorrow and just hopefully go out there and keep doing what I'm doing, putting well and hitting fairways and greens.