“If you want to play the big events, then support the tour.” This was Patrick Reed’s blunt assessment earlier this year of some PGA Tour players who only participate in the DP World Tour’s flagship event, the BMW PGA at Wentworth, for world ranking points. Reed, who joined LIV Golf in 2022, expressed his frustration with players who don’t fully support the tour but still want to compete in its major events, taking spots away from golfers who have committed to the tour all year.
Reed’s comments highlight the ongoing discussions about the future of golf and the relationships between different tours. As someone who has played on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and now LIV Golf, Reed has a unique perspective on these issues. He believes that players should put in the effort to support the tour throughout the year, rather than just showing up for one event to boost their rankings.
Well, while Reed’s brutal digs on the PGA Tour are never-ending, his views on the golf world aren’t limited to tour affiliations. Speaking on the latest episode of LIV Golf’s YouTube Channel, he shared his thoughts on his experience with the PGA Tour. He mentioned, “I know it’s impossible to please everybody and for everyone to like you. If you tried to make everyone in the world like you and try to please everyone, I mean you drive yourself insane”.
Well, Reed has tried pleasing people, and it hasn’t worked out in his favor so far. He’s been a polarizing figure in golf since announcing his presence nearly five years prior, with Britain’s Telegraph naming him the most hated player in golf and a 2015 ESPN players’ poll ranking him the second most-disliked man on tour. His brash comments, such as declaring himself a top-five player in the world at just 23 with only three PGA Tour wins and no major experience, haven’t helped his image.
So, this new insight into Reed’s mindset showcases his emphasis on being true to oneself. However, Reed also expressed his frustration with the PGA Tour, stating, “I mean they painted me as a villain, which hey I don’t mind being the guy that goes in to try to wreck everyone’s day… but I felt like whenever I did something successful or did the things that really meant a lot to me, those kind of got brushed underneath the table cuz they wanted to keep me in that one role.” He believes that his successes were overlooked, and he was unfairly portrayed in a negative light, which has likely shaped his perspective on the golf world and its complexities.
PGA, Golf Herren Masters Tournament – Final Round Apr 9, 2023 Augusta, Georgia, USA Patrick Reed lines up a putt on the third green during the final round of The Masters golf tournament. Augusta Georgia USA, EDITORIAL USE ONLY PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY Copyright: xKylexTeradax 20230409_jcd_st3_0050
Well, this isn’t the first time Reed has taken a stand for him self against the criticism he faced for joining LIV Golf.
Patrick Reed believed that the media ‘painted’ him in a negative light
So remember the drama that went down in 2022 after Reed joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf circuit? Well, if you don’t, we’re here to remind you. It all started when Patrick Reed spoke out about his defamation lawsuit against Golf Channel and analyst Brandel Chamblee, stating that they’d portrayed him in a negative light, claiming he was a “horrendous person, a cheater, a liar, and a thief.” Reed said, “It feels like the media have painted me as this black hat, and they’ve just allowed that to keep on driving their clicks as well as the amount of income they can bring in from attacking me.” He alleged that the PGA Tour and Golf Channel had conspired against him, and he was fighting back to clear his name, seeking damages above $750 million.
Reed also responded to Rory McIlroy’s comments about LIV Golf players participating in the BMW PGA Championship, calling them “insulting.” He pointed out that he consistently supports the DP World Tour, playing more events than some European players on the PGA Tour. Reed finished tied for fifth at the BMW PGA, with four LIV golfers finishing in the top 20, and predicted that a LIV player winning a non-LIV event would spark a media storm and evidently got a lot of hate for it. So, do you think Patrick Reed’s controversies on and off the course have impacted his reputation more than his actual golf game, even after all these years? Let us know in the comments section below.
The post ‘Painted Me as a Villain’: Patrick Reed Sends PGA Tour a Clear Message 3 Years After Joining LIV Golf appeared first on EssentiallySports.