Patrick Reed breezes to victory on PGA Tour regardless of drop controversy

The American shot a four-under par 68 on Sunday at Torrey Pines to romp to a five-shot win on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open, shifting the 30-year-old Reed into the highest 10 of the world’s greatest golfers.

After his method shot traveled left of the inexperienced into deep tough, Reed requested a volunteer if the ball had bounced. The volunteer mentioned no, main Reed to imagine his ball might have embedded within the floor.

Based on the PGA Tour’s Guidelines of Golf: “Gamers can test if their ball is embedded and obtain free reduction whether it is.”

Free reduction permits a golfer to drop the ball and take their subsequent shot.

Earlier than checking his ball, Reed could possibly be heard telling his enjoying companions: “Hey guys, I will test it. They mentioned it did not bounce.”

By the point the official had arrived, the 2018 Masters champion had already moved the ball after figuring out it had been embedded.

Reed then requested the official to test the bottom for an indentation, saying: “Since I picked it as much as test — it looks like it broke floor — however I would like you to double test.”

Reed and his caddie Kessler Karain line up a putt during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

The principles official mentioned he did really feel an indentation within the floor and decided that Reed’s ball had been embedded. He then guided Reed by way of the drop for reduction.

Nevertheless, Reed’s actions drew criticism from some golfers.

Fellow American Xander Schauffele mentioned he would have waited for an official.

“If my ball’s embedded, I normally will wait and name somebody and form of wait till everybody’s on the identical web page, wait to take a look at video,” Schauffele mentioned.

“So I attempt to keep away from conditions like that only for that cause. You’ll be able to put a tee within the floor and test your ball.

“He did every little thing by the e-book in keeping with the official and everybody stood by there. The discuss amongst the boys is not nice, I suppose, however he is protected by the Tour and that is all that issues, I suppose.”

Reed hits from the bunker on the 1st hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

In the meantime American golfer Lanto Griffin mentioned gamers have been “pissed off.”

“Golf’s a sport of sportsmanship and it is powerful to place us within the spot to name him out as a result of we weren’t there, however on the finish of the day I feel 99 % of the golfers out right here, if it is in query someway, they will go the opposite manner, not taking a drop, it did not cross, that kind of deal,” mentioned the 32-year-old Griffin.

“So, it is powerful to see, it is unhappy, form of pisses us off, nevertheless it’s the way in which it’s. Hopefully one thing modifications and are available to a conclusion.”

On the identical day, an analogous incident occurred with four-time main winner Rory McIlroy. His second shot on the 18th gap landed in tough on the proper facet of the golf green and though video footage confirmed it hopped, gamers and witnesses across the space have been unaware of that.

Based on the PGA Tour: “As such McIlroy proceeded alongside correct pointers, knowledgeable his enjoying companions, and took authorized reduction.”

Reed watches his tee shot on the 7th hole during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open.

Afterwards the PGA Tour confirmed that, after reviewing each incidents, Reed and McIlroy’s drops have been inside the boundaries of the legal guidelines.

“John Mutch, Ken Tackett and Gary Younger have reviewed the Rory McIlroy movies from No. 18 yesterday and decided that it was just about the identical state of affairs that Patrick Reed confronted on No. 10 throughout the third spherical,” the PGA Tour mentioned in a press release.

“It was cheap for each gamers to conclude — primarily based on the truth that they didn’t see the ball land, however given the lie of the ball in gentle course circumstances — that they proceed because the Rule permits for an potential embedded ball.

“They marked, lifted and assessed the state of affairs to find out if the ball was embedded. Patrick went one step additional and known as in a Guidelines Official to make certain his evaluation wouldn’t be questioned (though this step will not be required). Each gamers took correct reduction below the Rule 16/3.

“The Committee is comfy with how each gamers proceeded given the truth that they used the proof that they had on the time.”

Reed took to Twitter after his victory to defend his actions, declaring that he had carried out no in another way than McIlroy.

“DID THE SAME THING TODAY ON HOLE 18! AND DIDN’T EVEN CALL A RULES OFFICIAL OVER TO DEEM THE BALL EMBEDDED. END OF STORY,” tweeted Reed.

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McIlroy additionally addressed his state of affairs afterwards, saying he “mainly did the identical factor as Patrick did.”

“I mentioned, properly, I will simply test if it is embedded,” McIlroy defined to ESPN. “I simply noticed the video of it, as a result of none of them noticed it bounce, so I checked if it was embedded and it was in its pitch mark. I took the ball out and there was a lump of mud on it and it had damaged the floor. I mentioned to Rory Sabbatini, look, this ball’s embedded, and he mentioned yeah, no downside in any respect.”

In December 2019, Former Masters champion Reed was penalized two strokes for showing to intentionally enhance his lie in a bunker throughout the third spherical of the Hero World Problem within the Bahamas.

Reed didn’t break any PGA guidelines — he wasn’t required to ask for a Guidelines Official’s opinion earlier than taking “correct reduction” — however what occurred over the weekend confirmed simply how keenly gamers and followers of the game view the sanctity of golf’s traditions.