Although there were plenty of quiet comments among players after Patrick Reed’s controversial drop on the 10th hole during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open, few wanted to speak out publicly on the incident.
Following his runner-up finish, Tony Finau was asked if he was comfortable with the ruling, to which he responded: “Yeah, at the present time, the circumstances they were in, I think all the procedures that they went through were proper. The official deemed that it was an embedded golf ball, so he took his club length and took relief.”
Reed, who closed with a 68 for a five-stroke victory Sunday at Torrey Pines, reiterated that officials had reviewed the replay and ruled that he had not violated any rules.
But at least a couple of players seemed skeptical that he did everything correct.
Asked if he would have picked up his golf ball like Reed and placed it in another spot before a rules official arrived to review the drop, Xander Schauffele said he would not have.
“I would wait for an official. He did everything by the book according to the official and everyone stood by there,” Schauffele said. “The talk amongst the boys isn’t great, I guess, but he’s protected by the Tour and that’s all that matters, I guess.”
Lanto Griffin went a little deeper: “Golf’s a game of sportsmanship and it’s tough to put us in the spot to call him out because we weren’t there, but at the end of the day I think 99 percent of the golfers out here, if it’s in question one way or the other, they’re going to go the other way, not taking a drop, it didn’t cross, that type of deal.
“So, it’s tough to see, it’s sad, kind of pisses us off, but it’s the way it is. Hopefully something changes and come to a conclusion.”
Article originally appeared on: Golfchannel.com
How long are you going to talk about this , he did not break any GOLF ROULES…
A rules official and a marshal said it didn’t bounce. He won by 5 shots. It’s time to get over it. If you were in his group, maybe complain. I thought you were better than that, Xander.
It did bounce, given Patrick’s history he should know better to put himself in this position
It’s the losers bellyaching. SAD
He didn’t do anything that Rory didn’t do, other than getting an official ruling. maybe if Xander had played better he could have won. Learn to putt like Mr. Reed and you may have a chance at a major. Lets hear from Rory to defend Patrick. These holier than thou PGA pros are something else, and the CBS commentators are total A-holes too. He did everything by the book. I think I am going to root for Patrick even harder now
Problem is he’s a cheat, period !!
Apparently the ball didn’t bounce, well it did,
But even with the official being ok with it what about shortly afterwards when he stretched his legs out like a giraffe to get relief from the sprinkler head beside the green, rich been said
I’m commentary there was no way he’d take that drop !!
No one is questioning Rory for doing the same thing and he didn’t even get a Marshalls approval.
The guy did what the rules require! If players (and self-righteous TV commentators) believe additional rules or guidance for situations are needed, let the USGA know, but quit criticizing Reed for doing what all officials said was done correctly.
All this whining by the Media is nothing but bash Patrick. He complied with the rules of golf AND he won by 5 strokes, wasn’t even close. Patrick is the Champion golfer of the wee!
Sounds like a lot of sour grapes to me. He did not see the where the tee shot hit so he used the volunteers for guidance. Get over it he won by 5 strokes.
On TV it didn’t look like he showed the official the same spot that he picked the ball up from. He picked it up about 6-10″ from the cart path and the hole he showed the official was at least 2 feet from the cart path? The official had no option other than to rule on the ground where he claimed it ended up.
I was really surprised by Jim Nantz comments and his facial expression that Patrick cheated, shame on Jim I’m getting sick of him anyway