Patrick Reed is once again in the mix on a Sunday, and this time, he’s got the lead all to himself. After a steady two-under 70 in the third round of the Qatar Masters, Reed heads into the final day at 14 under, holding a two-shot cushion as he eyes his second DP World Tour title in just three weeks.
The former Masters champion has been making waves since shifting his focus to the European-based tour. With a return to the PGA Tour off the table until August following his LIV Golf stint, Reed is making the most of his time overseas-and doing it with the kind of consistency that wins tournaments.
Saturday’s round wasn’t flashy, but it didn’t need to be. Reed carded a birdie on each side of the course-one on the front nine, one on the back-and kept mistakes to a minimum. It was a workmanlike performance, the kind that keeps you in control of a leaderboard heading into Sunday.
Reed’s recent form speaks volumes. He took home the trophy at the Dubai Desert Classic last month, then followed that with a runner-up finish in Bahrain, losing in a playoff to Germany’s Freddy Schott. That kind of back-to-back performance isn’t just a hot streak-it’s a signal that Reed is locked in.
But he’ll have company in the final round. Jacob Skov Olesen is right on his heels at 12 under after putting together a four-under 68 on Saturday.
The Dane caught fire on the back nine, racking up five birdies-including three in his final four holes. That kind of late-round momentum can carry over quickly, especially when you’re chasing a major winner like Reed.
Just one shot further back at 11 under are Spain’s Angel Ayora and Australia’s Daniel Hillier, both well within striking distance. And there’s a crowded group sitting at nine under, including Scotland’s Calum Hill-who, like Reed, was part of that dramatic playoff in Bahrain-and England’s Daniel Bradbury.
Also in that tie for ninth is Sweden’s Sebastian Soderberg, who turned in the round of the day with a sizzling seven-under 65. His highlight? An eagle at the par-4 10th that gave his scorecard the kind of pop that could make things interesting on Sunday.
So here we are-Reed with the lead, a hungry pack behind him, and one round left to decide it all. The final day in Doha is shaping up to be a battle, and if Reed can keep his foot on the gas, he could be lifting his second trophy in less than a month. But with the way Olesen is finishing rounds and the firepower lurking just behind, this one’s far from over.