‘Somebody’s going to say something’ about Patrick Reed this week

MELBOURNE, Australia – Patrick Reed says he has moved on. His U.S. captain and teammates have moved on. So have their foes this week at the Presidents Cup.

As for the partisan International Team fans hoping to contribute to an upset at Royal Melbourne … well, that remains to be seen.

“I’m sure somebody’s going to say something out there,” U.S. playing captain Tiger Woods said Tuesday.

The hot topic, of course, stems from Reed’s two-stroke penalty for improving his lie in the waste area at last week’s Hero World Challenge. The resulting fallout from his explanation, as well as the reaction from some of his peers – including a few International players who weren’t in the mood to offer much sympathy – fanned the flames.

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Meanwhile, the local media, perhaps trying to incite the home crowd, has labeled him a “villain” and “public enemy No. 1.”

Unfairly or not, Reed had to defend his honor this week while pleading innocent to some serious golf accusations. He and Woods spoke about the incident, and there was also clear-the-air talk among his teammates. Reed assured them that his mistake was unintentional.

During Tuesday’s practice, Justin Thomas even poked fun at Reed by imitating him while addressing a bunker shot. “It’s all in good fun,” Thomas explained. “We needle each other all the time but it’s never anything personal.”

Will the Royal Melbourne fans be as forgiving? Tough to say. Cameron Smith, one of the Australian players who made strong comments toward Reed, is encouraging the crowd to “absolutely give it to not only him but everyone” on the U.S. team.

American Patrick Cantlay, who has partnered with Reed at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans team event and shared the same practice group on Tuesday, said the International Team is “doing their best to maybe get their fans going and get their fans to heckle him a little bit.”

A few fans already made their feelings known Tuesday in getting their first look at Reed, but he was nonplussed. He called their reaction “great.”

“Any time coming to an event like this, especially coming overseas, you expect to have the crowds against you, not on your side. That’s the name of the game,” Reed said “So to get the banter back and forth, especially this week, first to Australia. It’s been nothing but amazing.”

If Australian fans do decide to razz Reed, it could very well backfire against the home team.

Reed, of course, has a unique habit of shrugging off hostile reaction, especially in a team event when emotions run so high. He showed that in 2014 in his first appearance on a U.S. national team at the Ryder Cup in Gleneagles, Scotland, when he played to the crowd while posting an 3-0-1 record in a losing effort.

His ability to produce in these moments and successfully wear his passion on his sleeve helped create his Captain America mystique.

Would anybody really be surprised if Reed channels all this into some type of positive energy to deliver multiple points and justify Tiger Woods’ decision to make him a captain’s pick?

Thomas said there are a “group of guys in the world that can play really well pissed off – and he’s one of them … I’m glad to have him on my team because if he has a 15-footer to win a match, I’m glad that he’s on my side.”

For his part, Reed refuses to be surprised by any potential reaction from the Melbourne crowd. Knowing what to expect, after all, helps mitigate any over-the-top receptions.

“Of course they are going to speak out, because they want to get their crowds going and get on their side. That's the name of the game,” Reed said. “At the end of the day, all I can do is control what I can do and how I play.”

For now, Reed won’t be able to control the pre-tournament buzz that surrounds him. Most players – on both sides – were asked questions about Reed on Tuesday. Discussion looms on how much Reed will play before Sunday’s Singles, and whom might be his partners.

Plus, how much Reed wants to partake in that conversation is up to his discretion.

“This week might be difficult for Patrick Reed and it could be difficult for his partners,” Golf Channel analyst Jim Gallagher Jr. said. “That is the hard part. The captains are trying to deflect it and go forward, but I don’t know if it will keep deflecting because this is growing into a life of its own.”

Some American players simply hope the controversy blows over. International Captain Ernie Els said he’s not making a huge deal about it. “It's got nothing to do with us,” he said. “It's basically on what's happened, and I think Tiger's dealing with it and Patrick's dealing with that. We're getting ready to play the Presidents Cup. You know, we think everything's basically said. There's nothing more to be said.

Reed, meanwhile, said he doesn’t really care what fans say about him. Certainly he hopes it doesn’t cross that fine line separating passion from incivility.

“I think the great thing about it is how everyone whenever we're out there, whether you're at home and they are giving it to the International Team or whether you're away and you're on foreign soil, is even though there's friendly banter back and forth, they never cross that line,” Reed said. “You always stay on the respect side and I think that's the biggest thing.”

His captain isn’t worried. Woods played with Reed in last year’s Ryder Cup on foreign soil in Paris. While they lost both their matches against the powerful partnership of Francesco Molinari and Tommy Fleetwood, Woods saw first-hand how Reed handles such situations.

“I think Pat will be fine. Pat is a great kid,” Woods said. “He's handled a tough upbringing well, and I just think that he's one of our best team players and is one of the reasons why all of the guys wanted him on the team.”

Reed just wants to play golf, and he doesn’t mind being in the “underdog” role. In fact, he thrives in it.

“If you're the away team, I just think you have more to prove because if you're not playing that great, the fans are giving it to you,” he said. “… you just have your teammates and yourself out there to pick you up, so just kind of shows you how strong you really can be.”

Reed has another chance this week to show his strength. Of all the storylines going into the Presidents Cup, his is among the most intriguing. By Sunday, another chapter will be written. Time will tell if it’s the last one.