TROON, Scotland _ Patrick Reed has rubbed his fellow players on the PGA Tour the wrong way sometimes with his assured confidence, and at only 25, he's not among the cool group of his generation. He doesn't post buddy vacation photos from faraway islands.
He's got some new friends in Scotland, though.
Reed holed out his second shot from the fairway at Royal Troon's No. 3 and made five birdies and two bogeys in opening with a 5-under-par 66 on Thursday. That tied him for second, three shots behind leader Phil Mickelson, with two-time major winner Martin Kaymer of Germany.
What Reed said afterward surely warmed the hearts of Scots as he raved about the country, the lifestyle and his love for links golf.
Reed recalled how much he enjoyed the experience of playing in the Junior Open and watching the Open Championship in 2006 at Royal Liverpool when Tiger Woods won.
"Just watching the different shots that other players were hitting," Reed said, "I always thought it would be fun, because I love to create shots and hit the funny things. At home, we can't do that. It's too soft."
Reed also said he feels different mentally on this side of the Atlantic. He arrived last week to play in the Scottish Open, where he tied for 10th. He lauded life's "simplicity" here.
"You literally just have that kind of relaxed feeling that you have golf and then relaxing time," he said. "It's definitely a way different pace than back home. It's nice."
