Patrick Reed lays down Masters marker by making merry in Mexico

Patrick Reed was the 45-1 winner of the Mexico Championship, the former Masters champion warming up for the first Major of the season by claiming his second WGC title.

Reed, who won the 2014 WGC-Cadillac Championship, could afford a bogey at the final hole in Mexico and still end up triumphant on a day when bigger names failed to sparkle.

Rory McIlroy finished in fifth place, while Justin Thomas, who led going into the final round, suffered a 73 to drop into a share of sixth spot. Jon Rahm tied for third.

Reed's victory followed the Genesis Invitational success of Adam Scott, so two players who have already slipped into a Green Jacket have laid down an early marker for the Masters. Reed, the 2018 Augusta champion, can be backed at 28-1 for a repeat. Bet365 were so impressed by his Chapultepec heroics that they slashed him from 33-1 to 22-1.

Viktor Hovland, who holed a long birdie putt at the final hole to win the Puerto Rico Open on Sunday, is a general 80-1 chance for the Masters. The Norwegian, 11-1 winning favourite in Puerto Rico, did not earn automatic Masters qualification from his maiden PGA Tour title. He has moved up to 60th in the world rankings, though, so has a great chance of getting in the top 50 the week prior to the Masters to secure an Augusta debut.

The PGA Tour moves to Florida this week for the Honda Classic. Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose and Hovland headline the field. The European Tour returns to the Middle East for the Oman Open, featuring Vic Open champion Min Woo Lee.

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