SAN DIEGO – Showing no effect from a rules controversy a day earlier, Patrick Reed retired for a 5-shot victory Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open.
Reed closed with a 4 under 68 at Torrey Pines, making an eagle on par-5 six and finishing the ninth PGA Tour title with a bird on 18.
The former Masters champions finished at 14 under, after four consistent days at the municipal blufftop courses overlooking the Pacific Ocean. He shared the lead in the first round with Alex Noren, was in a group, shot the lead in the second round and then shared the lead in the third round with Carlos Ortiz.
The controversy arose on Saturday on par-4 10, when Reed hit a 190-meter shot from a hopper. A TV replay showed the ball bounced once before sitting in the hard. Without waiting for an official, Reed picked up the ball to see if it was incorporated. Reed told the official that no one in his group, as well as a nearby volunteer, saw him jump. He received a free drop and saved hair in a round of 70.
On Sunday, Reed started his round with a 45-foot eagle placed at number 6 to reach 12 under and followed with a bird on par-4 seventh. His only bogey was on par-3 the eighth and he returned with a bird on par-5 ninth. He played evenly until he sank an 8-foot putt on the 18th.
Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Ryan Palmer, Henrik Norlander and Viktor Hovland tied for second place.
Hovland had been closest in pursuit, with four birds on the front nine, including the ninth to reach 12 under. But the birds dried up and fooled no. 14, 15 and 17 – missing a 2-foot on 17 – in a round of 1 under 71.
Ortiz stumbled severely with a round of 6 over 78. He was injured with three bogeys in front of nine that left him just around the corner. He had even more problems on the new back, where he fooled the number 11 and then had problems coming out of a bunker on the green side of the number 12, taking a double bogey 6. He fooled 15, 16 and 18.