Patrick Reed hopes to join exclusive club with back-to-back Masters wins

Patrick Reed has slimmed down, and he’s motivated to win another Masters Tournament.

The defending champion isn’t ready to give back his green jacket this weekend. He’d like nothing more than to become the fourth golfer to successfully defend his Masters title.

“Now actually having the win, I know what I need to do in order to compete and have a chance on Sunday,” Reed said Tuesday morning during a news conference. “But knowing that I have to give the jacket back at the end of the week, it makes me more hungry and more motivated to keep the jacket and continue playing well and trying to win another one.”

Photos: Tuesday Masters Practice Round

He said he’s used the jacket as a tool for motivation.

“I position the jacket everywhere I go, so every time I wake up, I see it, and every time I come home and go to bed, I see it,” Reed said.

Reed comes to Augusta National on a bit of a cold streak. His first six PGA Tour events this season were steady, but his past four have not produced the results he wants. He hasn't broken into the top 40 in three stroke-play events and didn't make the final 16 at the WGC-Match Play Championship.

Following a session with instructor David Leadbetter before Match Play, “I feel like the game now is where it needs to be,” he said. “You know, I’ve been really close. I’ve put myself in position in some events. It’s just one round here or there that has kind of hurt me. I just need to go out and put four solid rounds together.”

Reed did just that a year ago, shooting 69-66-67-71 for a one-shot win over Rickie Fowler. He is serving a meal Tuesday night at the Champions Dinner that featured some of his favorite fare, including bone-in ribeye, macaroni and cheese, creamed spinach, corn creme brulee and steamed broccoli.

Reed said he has lost 10-12 pounds since last April, and he joked that he would need the extra room after the Masters Club meal.

“I just thought it would be better to get in better shape and just keep on getting stronger, because you know, the seasons seem to get longer and longer, especially playing on both tours,” said Reed, who plays on the European Tour after the PGA Tour season ends. “It’s something that I thought would help me for recovery purposes, and also just to stay strong from beginning of the year to the end of the year.”

Reed now has a spot in the Champions Locker Room, and he was assigned to share one with the late Herman Keiser. It’s an evening he can’t wait to experience.

“Honestly, I just can’t wait to go out and spend time with the past champions and hear different stories and be able to talk to the guys,” Reed said. “I mean, everyone has their different stories and I just can’t wait to kind of be in there and to listen to what they say.”