LIV Golf star Patrick Reed said earlier this week he had come here to win the US$2 million Link Hong Kong Open and not treat it as a warm-up, and he spectacularly backed that claim up today 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 it as the American leapt into the lead on 18-under.
Indian Rashid Khan and Nitithorn Thippong from Thailand share second place, three behind the leader. Khan shot a 63 and Nitithorn a 66.
Defending champion Ben Campbell from New Zealand, the leader at the start of the day, is one shot back following a 68.
It is only the second 59 recorded on the Asian Tour – the caveat being that preferred lies were played so it does not stand officially.
The only other 59 was registered back in May when American John Catlin recorded the magic number at the International Series Macau presented by Wynn.
Remarkably, Reed played with Catlin on that day, and it was also in the third round.
Reed sealed the deal with a confident 15-foot birdie putt on the famous par-four 18th here at Hong Kong Golf Club.
“Yeah, you know, it was kind of one those days,” said Reed, who is attempting to win for the first time in four years and claim his maiden Asian Tour title.
“I got up, I felt a little tight but felt ready to go and got out here and had probably one of the worst warm-ups ever.
“I looked at my caddy, and he goes, hey, a warm-up is a warm-up, let’s go out and just play golf. He goes, some of your best rounds have come from a poor warm-up.”
Reed also made birdies on seven and 13 and was bogey free. He has only dropped two shots in three rounds.
Added the 2018 Masters champion: “And you know, I stepped up on that first tee and did a great drive, and then from that point on, just quality iron shots, leaving myself a lot of really good looks, and was able to make a lot of putts.”
He has been a regular visitor here over the past 10 years and came close to winning in 2015 when he tied for third.
Khan, who made five birdies on the back nine, two on the front and was also bogey free, is in a battle to keep his Asian Tour card, in 90th place on the Order of Merit. He needs a big finish tomorrow to take the pressure off.
He said: “I feel great. I mean, you know, it’s been very long since I have been in contention playing. You know, to get a trophy home, I’m really working hard and really enjoying myself right now. That’s all I can say. I mean, when you’re playing golf, when you’re playing an event, a competitive round, it’s all about being comfortable on the golf course and just having fun out there.”
He is a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, but it has been a while as both those wins came a decade ago.
Campbell was in far less prolific form today but did well to stay in touch with the front runner.
“I just putted really poorly today,” said the Kiwi.
“The putter was ice cold, so it was frustrating. It felt like it should have been a pretty low one out there, I think I only missed one or two greens, and I think I missed one fairway or something like that. So, I hit it easily well enough to have a really good score out there.”
Australian Wade Ormsby, winner of this event in 2017 and 2020, has a chance of adding a third title after carding a 64 to sit six off top spot. He is tied with Hong Kong ace Taichi Kho, after a 66.
England’s Justin Rose, the 2015 champion here, returned a 65 and sits eight behind “Mr 59.”