Patrick Reed has opened his bid for a Middle East double with a one-under 71 in the Bahrain Championship, on a day when Alejandro Del Rey and Freddy Schott shared the lead at 65.
Reed, who won the Dubai Desert Classic last weekend before making the announcement that he’s leaving LIV Golf so he can return to the PGA Tour, is now seeking to finish high enough in the European tour’s Race to Dubai — he currently is No.2 — to earn full status on the PGA Tour next year.
The former Masters champ Reed was one over on Thursday until birdies on consecutive par-fives on the back nine, both times hitting wedge to tap-in range to get his round back under par.
Spaniard Del Rey was flawless as he carded seven birdies to set the clubhouse target at seven under.
It looked as though that would be too much for the rest of the field, but Germany’s Schott completed his roller-coaster round with a birdie-eagle finish to join him at the summit.
Defending champion Laurie Canter leads a group of five at six under on a logjammed leaderboard where 28 players sit within four of the leading pair.
The leading Australians were Jason Scrivener and Connor McKinney, both on two under.
