Focused Reed clears air following rules rumpus

Patrick Reed says he has cleared the air with fellow American golfer Xander Schauffele following the rules controversy which overshadowed his victory in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Reed was cleared of any wrongdoing by rules officials after taking a free drop for an embedded ball in the third round, but joint runner-up Schauffele was among those unimpressed with the situation.

“Obviously the talk amongst the boys isn’t great, I guess, but he’s protected by the (PGA) Tour and that’s all that matters, I guess,” Schauffele said.

Speaking ahead of this week’s Saudi International, Reed said he and Schauffele had exchanged text messages, adding: “I’m just going to leave it between him and I because really, it’s one of those things that all you can do is try to do the right thing and from that point, move on.

“We’re good. We’re all good.”

Saturday’s incident was not the first rules controversy involving Reed, who was handed a two-shot penalty during the Hero World Challenge in December 2019 after being adjudged to have improved his lie.

Asked if he felt such incidents meant he was viewed unfairly, Reed said: “I would say yes.

“Really what happened last week, I feel like it was handled the best way we could, and it was obviously handled the correct way when talking with the rules officials and seeing it through the rules officials.

“I went through the processes in the rules. You put the tee down to mark the ball after asking the guys (playing partners) and declaring you’re going to check to see if the ball is embedded.

“So you put down the tee to check to see if the ball is embedded. And when it looked like it was, that’s when you call over a rules official to see, not only have him just reconfirm but also to take a drop and figure out what the rules are.

“Because also, that’s one of the rules that has changed from the past where it used to be you drop at the closest spot to that and now it’s a club length.

“So for me it was making sure I was doing the right drop rather than taking the incorrect relief.”

Reed insists he is “not at all” bothered his ninth PGA Tour win was overshadowed by the incident, nor that his tarnished image among his fellow pros will make life difficult in team environments like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

Instead the world number 10 is focusing on trying to win his first regular European Tour event in Saudi Arabia, where Masters champion Dustin Johnson, US Open winner Bryson DeChambeau, Tyrrell Hatton and Paul Casey are among a strong field.

Reed, who finished third on the Race to Dubai in 2020, added: “For me, it’s always fun coming over and playing on the European Tour, get away from my comfort zone at home.

“It’s one of these things I call my second home, and to be able to come over and play and support both tours for me means a lot.”