Patrick Reed has vowed to channel his anger at being called a “cheat” into performing well at the Presidents Cup this week. The American was handed a two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge last Friday after improving his lie in the sand during his practice swings.
Reed brushed the sand on two practice swings before a neat approach in the Bahamas and officials decided to penalise him after reviewing the footage, which caused him to trail eventual winner Henrik Stenson by two shots.
The 2018 Masters champion protested his innocence and tournament chiefs did concur that the breach was unintentional but that did not stop some players accusing Reed of cheating.
Cameron Smith, part of the International Team at the Presidents Cup, said he had no sympathy for cheats while team-mate Marc Leishman said it was nothing out of the ordinary from Reed.
Both men’s words were met with a stern rebuttal from the Texan, though, who they will directly play against this week.
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“Of course they are going to speak out, because they want to get their crowds going and get on their side,” he said. “That’s the name of the game.”
And the 29-year-old hinted he now has some extra fire in the belly after the saga.
“It goes from wanting to beat those guys to it now turning personal, so it’s going to be a fun week,” he added.
Reed has largely been defended over the two-stroke penalty, which has dominated build-up to the Presidents Cup.
Tiger Woods, who hosts the Hero World Challenge and captains America this week, said: “It was not a lengthy conversation.
“Pat and I are very good friends. We kept it short and brief, to the point.
“The rules official gave him two shots. He finished at 16-under, two back of Henrik, and now we’re on to this week.”
Rory McIlroy also played down the severity of Reed’s penalty, telling Morning Drive: “You try to give the player the benefit of the doubt.
“He’s in there and he’s trying to figure out what way to play the shot and he’s moved some sand so it is a penalty.
“I don’t think the intent is there. But it’s also very hard for me to believe he didn’t feel what he was doing. It’s a hard one.
“I would never like to think anybody was intentionally improving their lie… but there’s an obliviousness to it, almost like it’s his pre-shot routine.”
With a rowdy Asutralian crowd awaiting Reed, McIlroy believes he will be in for a tough week.
“I don’t think it would be a big deal if it wasn’t Patrick Reed,” he continued. “I think, it’s almost like, a lot of people within the game, it’s almost like a hobby to kick him while it’s down.
“If it wasn’t Patrick Reed, it wouldn’t be getting quite so much attention… It’s going to make things really difficult down in Australia for him.”