FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- It was earlier this week when Patrick Reed, that fist-pumping, Europe-shushing, putt-dropping ball of momentum who solidified himself as the darling of an otherwise bleak United States team effort at the Ryder Cup two years ago, was asked why that event means so much to him.He narrowed his eyes, shook his head and paused for a few seconds, clearly taken aback by the sheer audacity of the question. It was as if he had been asked why water is wet or why the sun is hot. Then he stammered the only explanation he could muster: Its the Ryder Cup.While Reed did eventually elaborate as to why the biennial competition holds such importance, those four words should serve as the only necessary justification for why he so desperately wants to represent the red, white and blue once again this year.If he keeps playing like this at The Barclays, his probability of a roster spot will become a certainty by the end of the weekend.Reed entered this event as No. 8 on the U.S. points list, with the top eight players after this week having guaranteed automatic qualifying spots on the team. All of which placed him firmly on the bubble, not that hes showing the effects of feeling any pressure.With rounds of 66 and 68, Reed leads by 2 strokes over Rickie Fowler and Emiliano Grillo going into a weekend at Bethpages Black Course that could garner him an elusive first victory of this season, an invitation to the upcoming Tour Championship and, yes, an automatic berth on the Ryder Cup team.Not that hes thinking about the residuals.Really, Im going into this week trying to win a golf tournament, he said after a second round that included six birdies against just three bogeys. At the end of the day, if I go and I take care of me and do what I need to do this week, then the Ryder Cup will take care of itself. So Im not going into this week looking at it as, Oh, I need to do this for the Ryder Cup. Im going to think, Alright, I need to go win a golf tournament, and everything else will take care of itself.Winning hasnt come easy for him this season. A four-time PGA Tour champion, he has amassed 14 results in the top 25, nine in the top 10 and a pair of runner-up finishes at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions and Valero Texas Open.Some players -- especially those of the elite variety -- might consider their seasons a disappointment without a single trophy for the mantle, but Reed maintains that he can still have a successful campaign without one.Its golf, he explained. You have guys that are going to win in years and youre going to have guys that arent going to win in years. I think this year has been a lot better than last year and the previous years on consistency. Thats a big part that Ive been working on is to make sure I keep myself into golf tournaments. Not go out and win an event here and then miss two or three cuts and finish 50th, 40th.Its about consistency: consistently getting in contention, consistently having chances to win. If I keep doing that, I will at some point break through and win hopefully a couple in a row, not just one.Preaching about consistency seems like a peculiar strategy for a guy who has so often played inspired golf when the moment calls for it. This is the same player who put an index finger to his lips after rolling in a birdie putt during his singles match against Henrik Stenson two years ago at Gleneagles, the same player who called himself a top-fiver earlier that year.Even though Reed has only displayed a poker face when discussing how much the Ryder Cup is on his mind this week, at least one peer believes the prospect of qualifying for the team is the perfect form of motivation for him.All youve got to do is light the fire a little with him, said Jordan Spieth, his partner for three matches in the 2014 Ryder Cup. If he plays golf with some, whether it be motivation or just feeling like hes been a little off and he needs to just do that little bit extra, he always brings it.So far, Reed is bringing it this week.Whether he admits it or not, that Ryder Cup roster spot is a tantalizing carrot dangling right in front of him. Reed desperately wants to be on that team and isnt afraid to explain how important it is.Just ask him. Hell offer a slight scowl and a pause, then just four words.Its the Ryder Cup. Rob Gronkowski Jersey . The 27-year-old Scrivens will be joining his third NHL club since signing with the Toronto Maple Leafs as a free agent in 2010. The move also reunites with him with head coach Dallas Eakins from their time together with the American Hockey Leagues Toronto Marlies. Jakob Johnson Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-rex-burkhead-jersey .C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Steve Clifford said after all of these years in the NBA hes still amazed at some of the things LeBron James does. James Develin Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Cheap Patriots Jersey . Just not the game. Kyle Palmieri scored two straight goals in the third period to rally the Anaheim Ducks past the Philadelphia Flyers 3-2 on Tuesday night. ATHENS, Ga. -- Yante Maten and J.J. Frazier combined for 55 points and Georgia beat Furman 84-78 on Thursday.Frazier scored 28 points -- 15 in the second half -- and Maten added 27 as Georgia improved to 2-1 and dropped Furman to 1-2.The Bulldogs used their height advantage to outrebound Furman 30-23 and led for some 38 minutes of the game.Trailing 36-31 at halftime, Furman rallied with a 14-3 run early in the second half and led 48-47, and then briefly led again at the 8:07 mark after a made free throw by Kris Acox.From that point, Georgia outscored the Paladins 29-22 to earn the victory.Juwan Parker and Mike Edwards scored eight points each and the Bulldogs shot 53 percent (28 of 53) from the field and 28 percent from beyond the arc, led by Frazier, who was 4 of 9 on 3-point attempts.Theres been some concern at Georgia about who other than Frazier and Maten will provide points, but Bulldogs coach Mark Fox was pleased with those who added to the score.We had a lot of guys chip in -- our two big guns (Maten and Frazier) showed up like they should -- but we had a lot of other guys chip in, which was good to see, Fox said.Parker, who was 3 of 8 from the field and grabbed five rebounds, said Foxs shuffling of the rotations means anyone could help Frazier and Maten with point production.You have to be ready for the moment of truth, especially early in the season, said Parker, who hit a bank shot and a baseline jumper around the four-minute mark to put Georgia up 66-59. Thats when a bunch of different guys are going to be stepping up in different moments and different games, so you just have to keep your confidence because any night could be your night.Acox scored 17 points for Furman and Daniel Fowler added 16 before leaving the game late with an injury. Devin Sibley, the Paladins leading point producer, added 14 points on 4-of-12 shooting.Furman, which had five players score in double-figures in its 84-74 victory over UAB on Monday, was not as potent on offense or defense against Georgia.Youve got to give Georgia credit, coach Niko Medved said. I didnt think we were as connected defensively as we needed to be early. Frazier is a great player, I know that, but I thought that when you let a player like that get a rhythm early in the game. Once he got going, those guys were difficult to defend.THE TAKEAWAYGeorgia: Georgia improves too 2-1 after a season-opening loss to Clemson and two victories on its home floor.ddddddddddddFurman: The Paladins shot 50 percent from the field, 48 percent from beyond the arc and had four players score in double figures, but they couldnt withstand Georgias run at the end.UP NEXTGeorgia: After two games at home, Georgia takes its first significant road trip of the season, traveling to Kansas Citys Sprint Center for the final rounds of the CBE Hall of Fame Classic. The Bulldogs will open against George Washington -- the 2016 NIT champions -- on Monday and will play either No. 7 Kansas or UAB on Tuesday.Furman: The Paladins will play their first home game when they host Trinity Baptist at 4 p.m. on Saturday, the first of a three-game homestand that will also see Furman face UNC-Asheville (7 p.m. Tuesday), and Hiawassee (7 p.m., Nov. 25).TURNING POINTWhen Furman took the lead at the 7:13 point in the second half, Georgias Derek Ogbeide got a big putback to enable the Bulldogs to retake the lead and a slam by Mike Edwards at 6:54 put his team up 59-58; Georgia outscored Furman 25-20 the rest of the way.LUCKY 13Yante Matens 27 points marked the 13th time in his career that hes scored at least 20 points in a game. Hes scored in double figures 38 times at Georgia.QUOTABLEI thought as a team we made a step forward and it was another step in the right direction. There were some plays we that needed to be made that we didnt make towards the end of the game and (coach Mark Fox) will correct that in film. Other than the end of the game, I thought we managed the game very well. Georgias Yante Maten.HALL-WORTHYOn Friday, Georgia legends Hugh Durham and Dominique Wilkins will be inducted as part of the Class of 2016 for the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame. Wilkins has already been inducted in the Naismith Hall of Fame.Also in the Class of 2016 are Mark Aguirre (DePaul), Bob Boozer (Kansas State), Lionel Simmons (LaSalle), Jamaal Wilkes (UCLA), Doug Collins (Illinois State) and Mike Montgomery, who coached at Montana, Stanford and California.TOUGH HOSTSGeorgia now has a 23-4 overall record against Furman (in a series that dates back to 1920) and the Bulldogs are 14-1 when playing the Paladins in Athens. ' ' '