Sunday’s finish at The Valspar Championship had us on the edge of our seats. Drama and excitement ruled the day as the players seemed to be challenging each other, saying “can you top this?” 
But two of the actors in this drama may be setting the stage for a long run of sequels.
Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed are two of the top young American golfers and they may just be on a trajectory to carry the PGA Tour into the future.
The Tiger Woods/Phil Mickelson era is on life support and Rory McIlroy is in the midst of carving out his place in history. Bubba Watson, while the top ranked American is 36 and in the middle of his career. Reed and Spieth are just starting theirs and could be the characters the tour needs.
Reed is 24 and already has four PGA Tour wins and a Ryder Cup under his belt. While the 21 year old Spieth has two PGA wins, another worldwide win and a Presidents Cup and a Ryder Cup on his resume.
For years the game has yearned for a true rivalry but few golfers were able to step up. Reed and Spieth have just raised their hands and said,” pick me, I’ll do it.”
I am not saying that they are rivals to McIlroy, not by a long shot. Let them win two or three majors and then we’ll start the Rory comparisons.
But where they are right now is a good place for American golf. They are perched at the beginnings of what could be a long career facing each other.
They already have a history together as it was Spieth who volunteered to play with Reed at the Ryder Cup when most players shied away from teaming up with the egotistical Reed.
Each has managed to cultivate an almost cult like following but certainly have done it by different methods. What is strange here is the fact that they get along very well, becoming good friends at the Ryder Cup despite their alarmingly different personalities.
Spieth is humble and respectful peppering interviews with “sir and thank you.” He is mature beyond his years, spreads credit for his successes among his team and family and has become golf’s All-American boy.
Reed on the other hand has given us the impression that he is arrogant, selfish and abrasive. He boasted he was a top five player in the world, when no one else would. He dares to call out Tiger by wearing his traditional Sunday Red Shirt. There is no talk of team when Reed is interviewed; it’s all Patrick all the time.
Reed has spent the last week deflecting reports that he was cheating and stealing from the locker room when he was on the Georgia golf team. The story is being disputed but what can’t be questioned is that Reed was a problem child and alienated himself from two separate golf teams while in school. In spite of that he still won two National Championships after he transferred to Augusta State.
On the course they both play with a fire and a gamblers attitude. Both think they can make any shot, any putt and they won’t play it safe. They certainly show their emotions on the course, sometimes too close to a microphone.
We could easily put the white hat on the affable Spieth and the black hat on the self-centered Reed. But it’s too early for that.
For now we have two talented golfers, winning tournaments and challenging each other, at the same time fostering a friendship.
Will it grow to Palmer/Nicklaus levels…I doubt it. But could it be enough to carry the American game for a few years? Absolutely.
Reed and Spieth can continue their budding rivalry while tracking down Rory and hoisting some major trophies themselves. If they do that we can start to call Rory their rival.
For now it’s only a rivalry between them. But it’s early, let’s see what happens.
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