Getty Image / Ben Jared
It was no secret that it was going to be a tough week for Patrick Reed at the Presidents Cup, at least when it comes to fan reception after he was caught improving his lie (cheating) in a waste bunker at the Hero World Challenge last week.
Fans have been giving Reed the business in Melbourne all week long. It’s certainly not something new for Reed to hear it from opposing fans, especially in team events like the Presidents Cup, but it seems to be a little more intense this week.
Webb Simpson has been Reed’s playing partner through the first three sessions this week and things have not gone well, to say the least. The two lost their first four-ball match 1 down, the second session’s foursomes 3&2 and then lost 5&3 in the third session’s four-ball matches.
Well, it sounds like things may have hit a boiling point after Reed and Simpson were basically embarrassed by C.T. Pan and Hideki Matsuyama. Steve Sands of Golf Channel reported that Reed’s caddie, who is also his brother-in-law, Kessler Karain, got into an ‘altercation’ with a fan after the loss.
.@SteveSandsGC reports of an altercation between Patrick Reed's caddie and a spectator after the four-ball match on Day 3. pic.twitter.com/OwzBNXxixB
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 14, 2019
It certainly sounds like it was a pretty heated exchange between Reed’s caddie and a fan. At the end of the day, at least based on that initial report, Karain was likely just sticking up for his boss, but nevertheless, it’s not the best of looks with all that has gone on over the past week and a half or so.
Here’s a video that emerged on Twitter that appears to show the aftermath of the altercation.
Patrick Reed's caddie defending his cheating employer's honour. Go home. You're not welcome here. pic.twitter.com/z1nB8LHerA
— Benjo (@tweetybird_1323) December 14, 2019
Both Reed and Simpson weren’t picked for the afternoon sessions four-ball matches.
UPDATE (Saturday morning in the States): Karain has been suspended by the PGA Tour, which runs the Presidents Cup, for Sunday’s singles matches.
“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 final-round singles matches. We will have no further comment at this time,” the Tour said in a statement.
Reed will take on C.T. Pan in singles.