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Golfer Patrick Reed works on forehead tan before Humana

January 21, 2015

Patrick Reed, left, is congratulated by Jimmy Walker after Reed won a playoff hole to win the Tournament of Champions golf tournament, Monday, Jan. 12, 2015, in Kapalua, Hawaii. (AP Photo/Marco Garcia)

LA QUINTA, Calif. (AP) — Patrick Reed is coming off a playoff victory over Jimmy Walker two weeks ago in Hawaii in the Tournament of Champions.

He and wife Justine stayed at Kapalua last week for a vacation.

“Worked on my forehead tan,” Reed said. “Seemed like that got more attention than the actual golf game. … Played like 13 holes, that’s it — through the whole week.”

The 24-year-old golfer left everyone behind last year in the Humana Challenge. This year, he’s trying not to get too far ahead of himself.

“That’s one thing I’m going to do, hopefully, different this time than I did last time defending,” said Reed, set to begin his title defense Thursday.

In his first career defense, Reed tied for 24th in the Wyndham Championship in August.

Last year in the desert, Reed shot three 63s to open a seven-shot lead and closed with a 71 for a two-stroke victory. He admitted he was too conservative in the final round after breaking the PGA Tour record for relation to par for the first 54 holes at 27 under, and becoming the first player to open with three rounds of 63 or better.

“Instead of attacking flags like I did the first three days, I started to play to the middle of greens,” Reed said. “You need to stick to your game plan and keep firing hard.”

The 24-year-old Reed is coming off a playoff victory over Jimmy Walker two weeks ago in Hawaii in the Tournament of Champions. Reed has four victories in his last 35 tour starts.

“The confidence is growing and growing,” Reed said. “If I have a bad round or if I’m struggling, I still have that confidence level to keep going and turn a 75 into a 72 or a 71.”