Getty Image / Jason McCawley
Patrick Reed was caught improving his lie in a waste bunker during the third round of the Hero World Challenge. Video caught him grounding his club (legal) but then during his takeaway of his practice swing sweeping sand away from behind the ball (not legal).
Reed was slapped with a two-shot penalty and after the round blamed it on a poor camera angle. You can be the judge of that after watching the clip.
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This move from Reed certainly caught the attention of the golf world including members of the International team for this upcoming week’s Presidents Cup in Australia, which Reed will be teeing it up for the American side.
Cameron Smith, an Aussie playing for the International team this week, was asked about the incident and whether or not fans at the event at Royal Melbourne should let Reed have it. Let’s just say he did not hold back when giving his opinion.
“I hope so,” Smith said, per Evin Priest of the Australian Associated Press and Golf Digest. “I don’t have any sympathy for anyone that cheats.
“I hope the crowd absolutely gives it to not only him, but everyone [on the American team] next week.”
“If you make a mistake maybe once, you could maybe understand, but to give a bit of a bulls**t response like the camera angle … that’s pretty up there.”
So, do you think Smith is fired up for this week’s event, or what? Not that the International team needed any sort of bulletin board material when it comes to Reed given his antics in past team events, but this certainly feels like this latest stunt from Reed has the International side fired up.
It’s also worth noting that Adam Scott came out last week and asked International fans not to cheer for Tiger Woods or any Americans next week, too.
Here’s to hoping we get to see Reed and Smith go at it this week in Australia. Whether it’s in a singles match or any other form play, it should be fun, to say the least.