Staff WriterInternational Series Macau is shaping up to be a high-stakes spectacle, as Patrick Reed and Carlos Ortiz march into tomorrow’s final round sharing the lead at 16 under.
The two fought tooth and nail at Macau Golf and Country Club today, leaving fans on the edge of their seats—and their scorecards.
Reed, who has set the pace since Day One, posted a three-under-par 67, while Ortiz followed up with a lively 66. In hot pursuit at 13-under, both Germany’s Dominic Foos and American Jason Kokrak delivered matching 65s.
Australia’s Lucas Herbert lurks a few shots behind, eyeing one of the top-three spots that guarantee a place in The Open Championship at Royal Portrush.
Reed had a tidy four-stroke lead through six holes today until the tricky eighth brought a three-shot swing: the American carded a bogey while Ortiz chipped in for a jaw-dropping eagle two. Ortiz then birdied the 10th to draw even for the first time.
Although Reed recaptured the lead on 13, both men stumbled with bogeys on 14. Reed found one more bogey at the penultimate hole, but Ortiz couldn’t convert that into a lead of his own, and the pair finished out with fours on the par-five 18th.
“It was kind of sloppy, I missed a lot of putts,” said Reed – the 2018 Masters champion.
“My three bogeys were two three-putts, and I putted a ball off the green on 14.
Yeah, a couple of difficult pins out there I would say for sure, but everyone has to play them. And, you know, just gotta hit it closer, I guess, and hopefully make the putts.”
Reed, representing 4Aces GC on LIV Golf, has discovered a winning recipe in Asia, having claimed the Link Hong Kong Open last November—his first Asian Tour and International Series victory.
Hunting his 11th professional win tomorrow, he noted: “Just plan to do same thing tomorrow.
Just go out there and continue hitting quality golf shots, putting a good roll on it and just trusting the process.”
Ortiz, on LIV Golf’s Torque GC, is also eyeing a second Asian Tour triumph, having captured last year’s International Series Oman.
“Good overall. It was a good round. I put it in play most of the day. I honestly felt like I did a good job. It was not yesterday but it was a decent run. Definitely need to shoot as low as possible tomorrow.”
Meanwhile, Foos came roaring back with five birdies in his last seven holes. “Yeah, I started off pretty slow, made a couple of bogeys in the beginning,” said the German, a graduate of this year’s Qualifying School.
“But yeah, I’ve been playing really well, and I knew it was only a matter of time until some putts dropped, and yeah, lucky that happened on the back nine. It’s playing very tricky.”
Spain’s Sergio Garcia and Zimbabwe’s Kieran Vincent both returned 69s, standing six shots behind the leaders, while New Zealand’s Nick Voke fired a 64—the day’s best round—to join a nine-man group on nine under.
Defending champion John Catlin from the United States sits in joint 38th on four under, following a 68.
For spectators and players alike, this US$2 million event marks the second stop on The International Series—10 elevated tournaments on the Asian Tour offering pathways to the LIV Golf League. It’s also part of the Open Qualifying Series, making the action all the more meaningful for those chasing a berth at Royal Portrush.
The International Series Macau presented by Wynn continues through March 23. Entry is free every day, but tickets must be reserved at: www.tixr.com/groups/internationalseriesmacau/events
To learn more about The International Series, visit: www.internationalseries.com
