PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 14, 2026

Patrick Reed

Aronimink Golf Club

Flash Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Patrick Reed is with us now at the 108th PGA Championship.

Q. Patrick, can you just explain what the last month has been like for you since you haven't really played. Has that kind of been a strange feeling for you prepping for a major without tournament play?

PATRICK REED: It's definitely weird. Yeah, this year obviously a unique situation. With taking that time off since Augusta, it's been just a lot of grinding and preparing.

Really it's kind of one of those that you finally feel like you can actually properly prepare. Even though I wasn't playing tournament golf, I was kind of doing a lot of things and studying not only my golf game, but also around the golf course, kind of what is it that we're going to deal with when we come up here.

I feel like that was something usually coming into majors a little tired, even though I would say I'm tournament ready, because I've played a lot of tournament golf, but you don't really actually get to prepare. So this trip I was actually kind of able to prepare for this one. When I wasn't playing golf, I was able to kind of get away from the game, spend time with family and the kiddos, and just kind off mentally reset and get myself mentally and physically sharp coming in.

Q. We haven't gotten your reaction to the LIV news with PIF pulling funding. How did you take that news when you heard that? Were you surprised?

PATRICK REED: I had no idea that was going to come about. For me really, it's kind of just, you know, hope the guys continue playing some solid golf and get their opportunities. Whatever their future is, whether it's on DP Tour, try to get back to PGA TOUR or wherever they're playing, hopefully continue to play solid golf and go out there and do what they do.

Q. Patrick, where do you play most of your golf at home?

PATRICK REED: Carlton Woods.

Q. It takes a certain mentality to play a course like this and not get a bogey. Can you talk about that mindset a little bit? You've got to grind.

PATRICK REED: Yeah, it's definitely a grind. It definitely helped out on the back nine, which I would say is the hardest of the two, going out there. I think my only fairway I missed on that back nine was the first hole of the day, No. 10. Landed in the fairway, just kind of barely rolled in that left rough. I had a good lie.

And from there on, I proceeded to hit every single green until I got to the 4th hole.

So playing that back nine and hitting quality iron shot after quality iron shot and putting yourself on the putting surface, it made it a little easier to kind of go around there bogey free. The two opportunities I had where I got myself in a little bit of trouble, I hit a great wedge shot from 53 yards to 3 inches, and the one I was kind of fringe putting, and I was able to lag it up there and two-putt.

No, as a competitor and a player, you're frustrated when you hit that many greens and only make two birdies, but when you're playing in a major championship, especially on a golf course like this, going out there and playing bogey-free gives you confidence going into the rest of the week.

Q. What hole did you hit to 3 inches?

PATRICK REED: That would have been hole 4. I drove it in the left bunker, and I couldn't get it to the green. So I had to lay up to 53 yards and hit a wedge from 53 yards. I thought it was going to go in, but hey, you almost feel like you steal one, getting yourself out of position hitting one close like that.

Q. Did you consider playing an event since the Masters? I guess you maybe could have gone to Turkey a couple weeks ago. Was that even a thought?

PATRICK REED: When we were looking at the schedule, it seemed like it was going to be kind of set up the way it is right now, where I wasn't going to play in between here, and also wasn't going to play until the U.S. Open. So I kind of have these breaks.

Once the U.S. Open gets here, it's going to be hot and heavy. I felt like a lot of the events, I'll be going overseas and playing a lot of those tournaments. It was kind of one of those that I didn't want to play too many early on and kind of wear myself out before the majors.

Q. Can you recall in your career, have you ever not played between majors? Obviously you played before the Masters every year, and then this stretch. Would it have ever happened?

PATRICK REED: COVID. COVID would have been the only time. I mean, during season, I don't take breaks that long. You know me, I'm a competitor. I love to grind. I love to be in there playing with the guys.

Yeah, this year's a little different. Honestly, I enjoyed my time at home. I enjoyed actually getting to grind, to prepare, and work on things and get ready for this week. Hopefully I can continue the solid play and get myself up there and have a chance late Sunday. Who knows, it might be a new thing.

Q. Did you come here early?

PATRICK REED: I came last week for three days.

Q. Three days?

PATRICK REED: Yep.

Q. And then went home and came back?

PATRICK REED: Went home, came back.

Q. What did you learn in those days, if anything, that might have helped you?

PATRICK REED: Yeah, that the wind blows really hard here. I mean, the three days I was here, I felt like we had three different seasons. The first day, it was maybe 70 degrees, but it was blowing 25, 30 miles an hour. The second day it was hot and still blowing. Then the last day, it was raining all day, and it was cold. I hit a great drive on 10, I hit 7-wood, and barely got to the front of the green.

So I felt like I saw three different types of golf courses. I really felt like it helped going into this week because you just never know. You never know with the weather, what the wind does, or anything like that, what you're going to get yourself a part of.