Reed Goes 63 x 3, Has Shot At PGA Tour 72-Hole Record!

From John Nicholson's AP report on Patrick Reed's third straight 63 in the Humana Challenge:

"Any time you set a record on the PGA Tour it means you're doing something right," Reed said. "Well, a lot of things right. But at the same time it doesn't matter if you have the 54-hole lead. All that matters at the end is at the end of Sunday."

The 23-year-old Reed broke the mark of 25 under set by Gay Brewer in the 1967 Pensacola Open and matched by Ernie Els in the 2003 Tournament of Champions, Steve Stricker in the 2010 John Deere Classic and Pat Perez in the 2009 La Quinta event. Reed was one off Stricker's stroke record of 188 set on a par-71 course.

"Almost seems like I'm in a putting coma," said Reed, the first player in tour history to open an event with three rounds of 63 or better. "The hole seems huge. It almost feels like I can't miss. It's interesting because when I do miss a putt, I get really frustrated because I almost feel like I should make it."

Sean Martin sums up the numbers and notes that Reed's "27-under 189 total set a PGA TOUR record for lowest 54-hole score in relation to par" and his "189 came within one shot of the lowest 54-hole score in PGA TOUR history.

PGA Tour's By The Numbers reminds us that the TOUR record for most strokes under par for 72 holes is 33 by Steve Stricker at the 2009 Humana Challenge (90-hole event), meaning Reed needs a 65 Sunday to break the record.

The highlights: