Patrick Reed and Keegan Bradley lose their tempers at WGC Match Play

Match play, even more than stroke play, is a mind game between competitors. And judging by the outcome of Thursday’s contest, Bubba Watson got the better of Keegan Bradley before the two U.S. Ryder Cup teammates even teed up at Harding Park.

Sure, there was the 4-2 score by which Watson beat Bradley on the second day of WGC-Cadillac Match Play, that put the 2011 PGA champ down 0-2 heading into Friday and made the loser kicking-mad.

Or maybe it was the pre-match video teasing from the two-time Masters winner, who certainly has his own tics and fidgets, that got under the skin of the Air Jordan pitchman.

Bradley may have a future on the field goal unit of his beloved Patriots when Stephen Gostkowski eventually boots his way out of New England. But Patrick Reed showed his frustrations after missing a short putt in his second-round loss to Danny Willett by taking batting practice.

Fore!

And, of course, there was everybody’s favorite whining Englishman, Ian Poulter, chiming in on Twitter about his displeasure with the tourney’s new round-robin format that had him playing a “pointless” round on Friday.

Poulter lost to Gary Woodland, 3-and-2, on Thursday to get to 0-2, which guaranteed he (along with Bradley and a host of other heavyweights including Henrik Stenson, Jason Day and Adam Scott) would be hitting the highway Friday afternoon no matter the outcome of his match with Jimmy Walker (also 0-2).

Some of Poulter’s followers suggested he should be grateful for his lot in life.

Others offered helpful tips.

Either way, Ian, enjoy your lovely parting gifts.

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