US Golfer Patrick Reed accused again of unsporting conduct
US Golfer Patrick Reed accused again of unsporting conduct
The polarising US golfer sparked a fierce backlash on social media after he was caught on camera apparently improving his lie during the second round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Florida.
Former US Masters champion Reed had found the deep rough off the tee on the par-4 eighth hole – his 17th hole of the day – as he battled to make the cut at Bay Hill.
But when the camera zoomed in on Reed as he prepared to take his second shot, some eagle-eyed viewers noticed that the 30-year-old was fiddling with bits of grass closely behind his ball, seemingly in an attempt to improve his lie.
Reed’s alleged pruning did little to improve his fortunes, however, as he only managed to hit the ball a further 37 yards closer to the pin and went on to make a bogey-five.
It would prove a costly hole for the Texan as he ended up missing the cut by one shot after a three-over par round.
The close-up video of Reed’s actions in the rough led to some caustic commentary from golf fans on Twitter, with the Golf Weekly podcast’s account likening him to a “human lawnmower”.
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Golf writer Geoff Shackelford wrote sarcastically: “Good to see he’s taken the lessons [of] Torrey Pines to heart”, in reference to an incident at the Farmers Insurance Open where Reed was accused of a rules breach over a free drop.