UPDATED, MARCH 26:
Patrick Reed officially announced David Leadbetter as a new member of Team Reed on Monday, with his wife, Justine, confirming the reports to GolfChannel.com’s Tim Rosaforte.
“We are very proud to announce that Mr. David Leadbetter will be joining our team and we all look forward to working with him,” Justine wrote.
Say hello to the newest member of Team Reed.
After two impromptu lessons last week at Innisbrook, David Leadbetter will continue working with reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed. https://t.co/15mKUtfNfX pic.twitter.com/7ZJWeYzzrY
— Golf Central (@GolfCentral) March 25, 2019
“(Patrick has) been searching a little bit,” Leadbetter told Rosaforte. “He seemed a little frustrated.
“He seems very happy (with the progress). He likes the sensations and shots he’s seeing.”
Reed is the A Player in a pod this week at the WGC-Dell Match Play that also includes Sergio Garcia, Shane Lowry and Andrew Putnam.
The original story of Reed working with Leadbetter, which was published on March 23, appears below.
Patrick Reed’s first major championship title defense is less than three weeks away, and the 2018 Masters Champion hasn’t been in the best of form with Augusta National’s demanding test right around the corner.
As a result, Reed’s wife, Justine, took matters into her own hands and reached out to renowned coach David Leadbetter to request that he take a look at Reed’s swing prior to his second round at this week’s Valspar Championship.
Reed’s solid play has seen him make every cut so far in the 2018-19 wraparound season before Friday in Tampa, but diminishing returns exacerbated by his final-round 6-over par 78 at last week’s Players Championship spurred Justine to pick up the phone.
Nothing to see here, just the Masters champ hitting balls under the watchful eye of David Leadbetter. Shot 78 Sunday at Sawgrass and 77 yesterday at Innisbrook. pic.twitter.com/BuUIkW6G32
— Will Gray (@WillGrayGC) March 22, 2019
“Just trying to get a fresh perspective on the swing,” Reed said, according to GolfChannel.com’s Will Gray. “I feel like the club’s in a way better position now than it’s been, ever. I’m just hitting a couple loose shots that are kind of costing me some finishes I feel like I should be having.”
Reed fired an opening round 77 at the Valspar Championship and spent more than an hour on the range with Leadbetter prior to a second round 75.
“I just got a call from his wife, from Justine, who said, ‘Hey, listen, would you be prepared to just have a little look at Patrick. He’s struggling at the moment, he’s sort of lost a little bit. Could you do that for us?’” Leadbetter said of the conversation that spurred the session. “I said, ‘Yeah, I’m here, sure I’ll do it. Absolutely.’”
Leadbetter, who is based out of ChampionsGate, Florida, a short drive from Innisbrook, got the call from Justine before Reed even finished his first round.
“The great thing is we’re basically on the same wavelength, her and I,” Reed said. “Because of that, before I even finished my (first) round I didn’t even have to tell her that, hey, is there any way we can get someone in to just take a peek.”
Reed, who currently works with swing coach Kevin Kirk, said that there was no imminent partnership with Leadbetter and that he and Kirk were still working together.
“KK and I are really close. That has nothing to do with it,” Reed said. “Just trying to improve and get better every day.”
