Patrick Reed Tells Ryder Cup Fans To Shut Up [Video]
American golfer Patrick Reed rose to prominence this year for his performance in the WGC-Cadillac Championship. Not only did Reed rack up $1.53 million from the tournament, but he also grabbed another invaluable title — the youngest player to ever win a WGC event and only the fifth golfer in history to win three PGA tour titles under the age of 24. But as Patrick showed this Sunday at the Ryder Cup, a high level of success brings hubris.
At the birdie putt on the 7th hole of the Ryder Cup, Reed readied himself to take a putt, hit the ball, and before even seeing its trajectory, put his finger to his lips in a scolding fashion and shook it derisively at the rowdy Scottish fans observing his golf game at Gleneagles, reported USA Today’s Chris Chase.
“It was bold, brash, unsportsmanlike and everything that’s great about the Ryder Cup. Rather than be cowed by the pro-Europe crowd, Reed went right at them. This sort of bravado, which Reed has displayed during his breakout 2014, is what golf has been missing for years. And, in Reed’s defense, the gesture wasn’t completely unwarranted.”
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Of course, it’s not the first time in the Ryder Cup that Patrick and the rest of Team USA have faced heckling from the sidelines. Scottish fans tend lack decorum in a sport that is known for its gentlemanly nature on American shores. Despite the bad PR of shushing hecklers, Reed sinking this putt was a great boon as he was soon able to pull ahead of Henrik Stenson, reported Yahoo Sports.
“Reed and the rest of Team USA are having a brutal time at the Ryder Cup. In order to win the cup, the Americans will need to stage a historic comeback against Europe, all the while playing in front of a crowd so partisan even SEC fans would say they take it a little too far.”
Of course, it’s not even the first time in the game Patrick has been heckled by the spirited Scottish crowd at the Ryder Cup. Today a fan yelled out, “Have you been practicing your putting, Patrick?” in reference to a two-foot putt that Reed had embarrassingly missed on Saturday.
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Sports commentators were torn about whether they thought the fan’s mocking of Patrick was unsportsmanlike or just a part of the game. Either way, Reed is marching onward to play admirably at the Ryder Cup.
“That comment was rude and completely uncalled for. No one should ever do that at a golf tournament. But, if we’re being honest, that’s as good a heckle as it gets. It’s loud, clear and timely. It’s clever, subtle and completely in bounds. Reed was right to be upset, but as he showed on No. 7, revenge can sometimes be the best medicine.”
Do you think Patrick Reed’s behavior at the Ryder Cup was rude? Or was it just in the face of what the fans were doing?
[Image via Twitter]
