Reed’s caddie banned after altercation with fan at Presidents Cup
Patrick Reed’s controversial career has taken another twist.
Dogged by numerous offcourse spats since his US college days, the 2018 Masters champion was penalised for improving his lie in a bunker during a Hero Challenge tournament last week.
Now his caddie has stepped out of line, and was yesterday banished from the remainder of the Presidents Cup after pushing a spectator.
Reed has accepted the decision after an altercation involving his bag-man, Kessler Karain – who is also his brotherin-law – during the fourballs at Royal Melbourne.
A statement from the PGA Tour read: “Following an incident that took place on Saturday at the Presidents Cup involving Kessler Karain and a spectator, Karain will not return to caddie for Sunday’s finalround singles matches.
“We will have no further comment at this time.”
Reed responded: “I respect the Tour’s decision. We are all focused on winning the Presidents Cup tomorrow.”
The American, who has not won any of his three matches in the Presidents Cup, had been receiving taunts from fans over his misdemeanour last week.
Karain described the latest incident in a statement issued on US-based golf podcast, “Fore Play.”
He said: “We have been known for having fun with some good banter.
“But after hearing several fans in Australia for three days, some had taken it too far. And this gentlemen was one of them.
“I had had enough.
“Riding on the cart, the guy was about three feet from Patrick, and said ‘you suck’.
“I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple of things, probably a few expletives. Security came and I got back in the cart and left.
“I don’t think there’s one caddie I know that could blame me.
“Unless his bones break like Mr Glass, the most harm done was a little spilled beer, which I’m more than happy to reimburse him for.”
The backdrop to this was that Reed was accused of cheating during the third round of the Hero Challenge at the Albany course in the Bahamas earlier this month.
Reed’s drive on the par-5 11th hole found the waste area, and he proceeded to put his club behind the ball and take two practice swings before knocking it out and making bogey.
Eventually, however, the footage was looked at more closely, and it looked as if Reed had brushed away sand with each backswing.
Paul Azinger, who was covering the event for Golf Channel, said: “If that’s not improving your lie, I don’t know what is.
“He knows better. I don’t know why that happened or what he was thinking.”
Meanwhile, back at the golf, the International team led the event 10-8 after the third day’s action at Royal Melbourne. The United States went into the penultimate day trailing by three points and found themselves 9-5 behind after the fourballs.
However, they rallied in the foursomes, with Gary Woodland and Dustin Johnson beating Adam Scott and Louis Oosthuizen 2&1.
Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele did likewise against Im Sung-jae and Cameron Smith.
Abraham Ancer and Marc Leishman denied the United States further success by battling back from five down at the turn to halve with Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas.