Patrick Reed wins the Farmers Insurance Open 2021

The American golfer Patrick Reed claimed his ninth career title on the PGA Tour on Sunday by winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California.

Reed won the prestigious title by five shots after carding a four-under par 68 on the final day, ended up with a tournament total of 14-under-274 to finish five shots ahead of the rest at the $7.5 million event.

Reed, who took home the winning cheque of $1,350,000, began the day tied for the lead at 10-under with Mexico's Carlos Ortiz but eased to victory with a four-under 68 at Torrey Pines.

Overnight co-leader Carlos Ortiz of Mexico shot a blunder 6-over par 78 and finished his roller-coaster campaign at T-29th position.

On Saturday, Reed hit a 190-yard shot out of a bunker with a TV replay showing the ball bounced once before settling into the rough. But Reed didn't wait for an official and picked up the ball to see if it was embedded. The 30-year-old then told the official that no one in his group, or nearby volunteer, saw it bounce. He was awarded a free drop and saved par in a round of 70.

“Like I said yesterday with the rules official, they said they showed it upstairs and everything with me yesterday, that the protocols I went through and everything that transpired was the right thing,” said Reed.

The 2018 Masters Champion remains unaffected by the controversy, and on Sunday, he eagled the sixth and finished his dominant final day on the 18th with a birdie; his only bogey came on the eighth par-3.

"I knew today was going to be a grind, especially with that leaderboard and seeing how many big names were right around there at the top. I knew you were going to have to go out and play on offence. You couldn't play defence. You had to go out there and shoot a number.

Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele, Ryan Palmer, Henrik Norlander, and Viktor Hovland tied for the second spot, and Jon Rahm carded a disappointing closing 72 to finish tied seventh.

The former Open champion Francesco Molinari continued his return to form with a closing 66 to share 10th.