Patrick Reed clears air with Xander Schauffele over rules controversy comments

Patrick Reed has cleared the air with Xander Schauffele over comments by his fellow American in the wake of the 2018 Masters champion finding himself embroiled in his latest rules controversy.

Patrick Reed talking to the press ahead of the Saudi International powered by SoftBank Investment Advisers at Royal Greens Golf and Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City. Picture: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images.

Reed, who went on to win the event, was awarded a free drop from an embedded lie in the rough at the tenth hole at Torrey Pines in the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open on Saturday.

He later described his decision to pick up the ball before a rules official arrived on the scene as a “textbook” call due to believing it did not bounce – TV pictures showed it did – before settling in the rough.

Speaking on Sunday, world No 4 Schauffele didn’t hold back when asked about the incident, saying: “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.”

Reed was asked about his reaction to that comment as he prepared to join a star-studded line up for this week’s third edition of the Saudi International at Royal Greens Golf & Country Club in King Abdullah Economic City.

“I've actually talked to Schauffele,” he revealed. “Him and I actually talked earlier this week. We were talking through text. He texted me first.

“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 move on.”

Reed, known as “Captain America”, and Schauffele will almost certainly be in Steve Stricker’s side for the Ryder Cup in September.

Asked if he was concerned that such a feeling might lead to problems for him, Reed replied: “No, not at all.”

On a day when a similar thing happened to Rory McIlroy, Reed defended his decision to take his ball out of the embedded spot before a rules official arrived on the scene.

“Why would I change any situation considering I did it basically straight by the rule book?” he asked.

“It's one of those things that when you didn't see the ball bounce, and then you have a volunteer that said they didn't see it bounce either, then the only way to check it is by putting a tee in and checking.

“If I waited for a rules official every single time for something like that, you have to worry about pace of play and holding groups up behind you, as well as getting out of position.”

Graeme McDowell, the defending champion in Saudi Arabia, said he didn’t believe Reed had “cheated” last weekend but believes he has “created a label for himself”.

The incident at Torrey Pines came after he was penalised two shots for appearing to intentionally improve his lie in a sand waste area during the 2019 Hero Challenge.

Asked if he felt people looked at him unfairly over rules issues, Reed said: “I would say yes.

“But that was last week, and the biggest thing for us is to focus on this week is this golf tournament and go out and try to get another W.”

Reed, who climbed to 10th in the world on the back of his victory on Sunday, finished outside the top 50 in this event in 2019 before missing the cut 12 months ago.

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