Patrick Reed has been involved in plenty of controversial situations throughout his career.
And way back in 2019, Reed incurred the wrath of Sir Nick Faldo after one of his infractions hit the headlines.
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The 35-year-old is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world when he’s on his best form.
Patrick Reed won The Masters in 2018 and, love him or loathe him, he is very much a needle-mover.
Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
Reed has been in the news recently after leaving LIV Golf, and he will be eligible to play on the PGA Tour once again from August 26th onwards.
However, back in 2019, he hit the headlines for much more controversial reasons.
Nick Faldo urged the PGA Tour to call Patrick Reed in for a meeting
Back in 2019, Reed was handed a two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge for allegedly improving his lie in a bunker.
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However, Reed defended himself after the incident at Albany Golf Club in the Bahamas.
The American said: “It’s not the right word to use. At the end of the day, if you do something unintentionally that breaks the rules, it’s not considered cheating, but I wasn’t intentionally trying to improve a lie or anything like that.
“If I was, it would have been a really good lie, and I would have hit it really close.“
Nick Faldo was approached for comment by The Telegraph not long after and the six-time major winner wasn’t happy that Reed avoided further sanctions from the PGA Tour.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
“It looked so blatant that I think the PGA Tour really needs to look at it again and call in Reed and deal with it properly,” Faldo said.
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“Reed now has a reputation forever. When he’s walking down the range, it’ll all go quiet. ’There goes ‘Patrick Two Scoops’, his fellow pros will mutter. Reed will never shake it off.”
In fairness to Reed, it was never proven that he purposely improved his lie in the bunker at the Hero World Challenge.
It’s also fair to suggest that Reed has actually received plenty of unfair criticism throughout his career.
Patrick Reed once responded to his critics
Back in 2021, Reed insisted that he has been treated harshly by the media.
“I do. I think a lot has been misconstrued, unwarranted,“ the 2018 Masters champion said.
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“Being called a cheater. That’s so far from the truth. No athlete, no golfer who works to make it to the highest level is a cheater. If you take what you think is a correct drop, and it turns out to be an incorrect drop, that’s a rules infraction, and there’s a penalty. Happens all the time.
“Cheating is intentionally trying to gain something on the field. I’d rather play as hard as I can and lose a golf tournament than cheat and win.
“You can ask every golfer on the PGA Tour, and they’ll all say the same. When that word gets thrown around, whether it’s about you or someone else, that’s wrong, and it’s false. We’re out there, with blood, sweat and tears, trying to be the best we can and be role models.”
Reed is right. Once you get tarred with the cheating brush, so to speak, it is hard to ever shake off that reputation.
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