Patrick Reed struggles with putting in opening round

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Patrick Reed putts on the seventh green during the first round of the Masters.

During Tuesday’s practice round, Patrick Reed spent more than an hour on Augusta National’s practice putting greens.

“I have to make a couple more putts this year,” he said after the practice round. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball pretty well, but you have to make putts around here.”

Unfortunately for the former Augusta State star, he suffered three three-putts Thursday en route to an opening-round 76. Reed had five bogeys, while making just one birdie, on the par-5 13th.

Reed declined to be interviewed after Thursday’s round.

The 25-year-old has yet to break 70 in seven competitive rounds at Augusta National. In his two previous opening rounds, Reed shot 73 in 2014 and 70 last year.