Fight breakout between Caddie and Fan during President Cup
Patrick Reed’s career has been marked by controversy, starting from his college days. His time at the University of Georgia ended abruptly after he was dismissed from the golf team due to multiple alcohol-related violations and possession of a fake ID. Additionally, Reed’s former teammates accused him of stealing $400, a putter, and a watch…
Patrick Reed’s career has been marked by controversy, starting from his college days. His time at the University of Georgia ended abruptly after he was dismissed from the golf team due to multiple alcohol-related violations and possession of a fake ID. Additionally, Reed’s former teammates accused him of stealing $400, a putter, and a watch from their locker room, allegations he denied. There were also claims that he improved his ball’s lie during an event, which he also refuted.
After transferring to Augusta State University, Reed’s troubles followed him. His new teammates even voted to have him removed from the team due to his contentious behavior. However, the coach chose to keep Reed, and he subsequently led the team to two national titles, showcasing his undeniable talent despite the controversies surrounding him.
Reed’s professional career has been similarly tumultuous. During the 2019 Hero World Classic, he was caught on camera seemingly improving his ball’s lie in a bunker on two separate occasions. Although he claimed the camera angles made the incident appear worse than it was, he received a two-stroke penalty. This incident stirred significant backlash, especially ahead of the Presidents Cup later that year.
Cameron Smith, a member of the International team at the Presidents Cup, openly criticized Reed, calling his explanation “bull****” and expressed zero sympathy for anyone caught cheating. He encouraged the Australian crowd to express their disapproval during the tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Course.
The Australian spectators did not disappoint, seizing every opportunity to jeer at Reed. The hostility became so intense that Reed required an armed police escort on the course to ensure his safety. Despite the security measures, tensions escalated further when Reed’s caddie and brother-in-law, Kessler Karain, confronted a particularly aggressive spectator who shouted, “You f****** suck,” after Reed and his partner Webb Simpson lost their four-ball match to Hideki Matsuyama and C.T. Pan.
Karain, visibly upset, exited the cart and shoved the fan before security intervened. He later defended his actions, stating that protecting his player was part of his job, and he felt some of the heckling had gone too far. Karain was subsequently banned from the final day of the Presidents Cup, but the U.S. team managed to secure a narrow 16-14 victory over the International team.
This eventful 2019 Presidents Cup turned out to be Reed’s last, as he later joined the Saudi-backed LIV Golf in 2022. His move to LIV resulted in a ban from PGA Tour events, including the Presidents Cup, as the tour prohibited all LIV players from participating.
There is a possibility that Reed could return to the Presidents Cup if the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf materializes, which could allow all players to compete in the biennial event. However, if 2019 remains his final appearance, it will be remembered as a tournament overshadowed by the controversy involving his brother-in-law’s physical altercation with a fan, adding another chapter to Reed’s contentious career in golf.