Patrick Reed risks costly mistake before The Masters despite strong Augusta record

That stands in contrast to many of the world’s top players, who have continued to feature regularly in the lead-up to Augusta.

For example, Rory McIlroy played at The Players Championship in mid-March as part of his preparations.

The lack of recent competitive action could leave Reed slightly undercooked compared to his rivals, particularly with sharpness often crucial at Augusta.

Patrick Reed’s strong Masters record makes decision even more surprising

What makes Reed’s approach even more surprising is his outstanding record at The Masters.

The 2018 champion has finished in the top 10 four times in his last six appearances at Augusta, including a third-place finish last year.

Few players in the field can match that level of consistency at the tournament.

Augusta National clearly suits Reed’s game, as his short game and putting often stand out under pressure.

However, even the most experienced players typically rely on recent competition to fine-tune their form ahead of a major.

By taking a different approach this year, Reed may be putting that strong record at risk.

Whether it proves to be a masterstroke or a costly mistake will become clear when he tees it up at Augusta.