Patrick Reed's "cheating" revisited by that account was too funny | Opinion

The account widely-assumed to be linked with a member of Patrick Reed's family was back in action over the weekend and it was an absolute riot, writes Ben Smith.

Ben Smith

26 Sep 2022

Patrick Reed's "cheating" revisited by *that* account was too funny | Opinion — Patrick Reed's "cheating" revisited by *that* account was too funny |…

If you are a golf fan who enjoys a bit of drama and you aren't following the account on Twitter widely-assumed to be Patrick Reed's wife Justine, then you simply aren't doing it right.

There aren't many things that provide the same buzz like a notification from the account @useGolfFACTS.

Some of the claims from this account are absolutely wild. We're talking was the moon landing faked kinda stuff.

Related: Patrick Reed forced out of Dunhill Links over hotel incident ahead of St Andrews

Reed allegedly "cheating" during the 2019 Hero World Challenge?! That footage was "DIGITALLY-ALTERED", PEOPLE!

To try and catch you up, this pro-Reed account came to life once again over the weekend during the 2022 Presidents Cup after a few months where there hasn't been too much activity.

The subject matter was whether or not LIV Golf Invitational Series players should receive world ranking points, then it pivoted once again to whether or not Reed cheated.

Players like Reed who have joined Greg Norman's league currently do not have a pathway to qualify for golf's four major championships unless they are exempt as a former winner.

I tentatively suggest that the players who have joined LIV Golf have ticked off the PGA Tour.

So much so they have been banned, pending an antitrust lawsuit.

Therefore, Reed and co have been turning to the Asian Tour and the DP World Tour when they aren't playing LIV events to earn points.

In fairness to Reed though, he is an honorary lifetime member of the former European Tour.

In August, the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) introduced an updated system.

Whether or not the system is fair is a matter for debate. Those who are pro-LIV suggest the OWGR has "cancelled golf".

LIV Golf have applied for OWGR accreditation. Their players also sent the OWGR chairman, Peter Dawson, a letter imploring him to grant their application, despite not fulfilling all of the relevant criteria to earn points.

According to SI's Bob Harig, LIV Golf believe they are being "slow played" by the process and have become agitated and impatient.

Aside from Dawson, those that sit on the OWGR board are PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan; DP World Tour CEO Keith Pelley; Keith Waters, who represents the International Federation of PGA Tours; and the heads of all four major championships — Fred Ridley, Masters chairman; Seth Waugh, CEO of the PGA of America, Mike Whan, CEO of the USGA and Martin Slumbers, CEO of the R&A.

So from the outside looking in, it kinda feels like we're in a situation where LIV are saying: "We know we've annoyed all of you, but, err, can you give us what we want? Now please."

Anyway, back to ~~Justine~~ @useGolfFACTS.

These were my highlights:

"Experts will break that down..."

"That's offensive to potatoes..."

Reed is currently involved in a $750m defamation lawsuit against the Golf Channel and the prominent LIV critic and former PGA Tour player Brandel Chamblee.

One lawyer believes his case is "destined" to fail.

What the court documents say in the lawsuit...

"Despite his exceptional world class golfing achievements, in June of 2022, Mr Reed was constructively terminated as a member of the PGA Tour, as a result of threats made and actions taken by its Commissioner Jay Monahan and his PGA Tour, and signed with LIV Golf.

"To compound matters, both before and in furtherance of the threats made and actions taken by the PGA Tour and its commissioner Jay Monahan, to constructively terminate Mr Reed, defendants Chamblee and NBC's Golf Channel have conspired as joint tortfeasors for and with the PGA Tour, its executives and its commissioner Jay Monahan, to engage in a pattern and practice of defaming Mr. Reed, misreporting information with falsity and/or reckless disregard for the truth … purposely omitting pertinent key material facts to mislead the public, and actively targeting Mr. Reed since he was 23 years old to destroy his reputation, create hate, and a hostile work environment for him … "

The court documents point out Reed has been subjected to these insults over the years...

"Now on tee, the excavator!"
"You suck!"
"You f---ing suck"
"You jackass!"
"You coward"
"Shovel!"
"Why don't you dig a grave and bury yourself in it!"
"You piece of s***!"
"No one likes you!"
"Everyone hates you Reed!"
"Good luck digging yourself out of this one!"
"Where are your parents coward!"
"You cheater!"
"Cheat!"
"Everyone hates you cheater!"
"You're going to miss this cheater!"
"You cheat in college and on Tour and you're a piece of s***!"
"Why don't you introduce your children to their grandparents you ungrateful b****"