The golfer fans love to loathe was crowned the winner of the Masters at Augusta. Patrick Reed carded a final round of 71 to finish on 15 under par, 1 shot ahead of Rickie Fowler.
Many fans seemed to struggle to find joy in the impressive display from the brash Texan and social media sites were ripe with expressions of disappointment, the general consensus was that one of the perceived ‘bad guys’ of golf had secured a spot among the greats with his maiden major victory.
Reeds chequered past make him unlikely candidate to garner the adoration of the causal golf fan. He has in the past drawn unwanted attention through a combination of his use of a homophobic slur, directed at himself, a number of egotistical pronouncements and a much discussed family estrangement that has played out in public.
Reed has a reputation too for using foul language on the course, but that is the least unsavoury feature of the man voted by fellow pros as one of the least likely people they would help out in a fight. Reed was second only to Bubba Watson in that poll of 103 pros on the PGA tour that was conducted by ESPN.
His family reside in Augusta but were unlikely to have been in attendance for their son's biggest moment, the family dynamics of celebrities is often fodder for salacious tabloid gossip, Reed’s issues give some insight into a character who has been described as a loner by those who have covered his career.
According to Golf.com, his issues with his parents date back to 2012 when some family members were not invited to his wedding, despite the fall out his parents Bill and Jeannette attended the 2014 US Open and followed their sons progress during the second round, reports suggest once they reached the 18th hole, they were escorted off the grounds and had their tournament passes revoked by a USGA official.
His sister at the time described him as a "selfish, horrible stranger” in a Facebook post.
Why would you ever say such hateful words, you don’t know my Son or us, we love our Son! Lies sell, truth does not!
— Jeannette Reed (@JKReed58) April 8, 2018
Reed’s wife responded in a facebook comment claiming: "His parents verbally and physically abused him for most of his life, abused alcohol and would get in fist fights with him in parking lots after bad rounds.
"Patrick was seen as a 'meal ticket'. Not my words, his. This is no sob story, we don't have time for that. This is the truth."
HBD 2 my Patrick! May ur day be filled with many birdies & eagles! Miss you, Brat! 😉🥂ðŸ¾ðŸŽ‰â¤ï¸#27 #patrickreed #muchlove pic.twitter.com/wstGCrlJpb
— Jeannette Reed (@JKReed58) August 5, 2017
Reed’s personal life is his own, there is undoubtedly another side to that story which has yet to be heard. It does however add a tragic dynamic to his story and is worth noting, the proudest day of his life, his greatest success, his parents not there to share it with him.
Reed’s left University of Georgia amid allegations of cheating, which Shane Ryan detailed in his brilliant book, Slaying the Tiger: A Year Inside the Ropes on the New PGA Tour. He notes that Reed was accused of cheating and stealing from teammates. He denied the accusations, saying he was dismissed for alcohol violations.
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In 2014, he was caught on camera using a homophobic slur after he missed a putt, muttering to himself: “Nice fucking three-putt, you fucking faggot.” Reed said sorry and vowed to improve his conduct on the course.
Many golf fans couldn't muster up any feelings of good will after Reed's Masters moment, he enjoyed it despite the topic of his detractors being broached in the immediate aftermath of the victory.
Why don't fans embrace you, what's with the ill will on Twitter? One golf reporter mused.
"I don't know. Why don't you ask them? I mean, I have no idea, and honestly I don't really care what people say on Twitter or what they say if they are cheering for me or not cheering for me," Reed responded.
"I'm out here to do my job, and that's to play golf. I feel like if I'm doing it the right way, then that's all that really matters."
Reed's attitude and actions haven't endeared him to fans over the last four years, but for a man with a reputation of being an island, he is unlikely to be troubled by those begrudging of his greatest success.
