Tag: Patrick Reed

Rory McIlroy recounts battle with Patrick Reed at Hero Dubai Desert Classic: ‘Had to be him’

“I think Patrick had just made eagle and I’m just like ‘Had to be him.'”

Last year was a battle between old foes — a challenge Rory McIlroy looks back on fondly.

The Northern Irishman and Ryder Cup rival Patrick Reed were once again in the midst of a showdown, this time at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic.

Punches were thrown, rebuttals came frequently, and the trophy came down to the final hole.

After he was forced to lay up on the closing par 5, McIlroy hit his third to makeable range. Once the winning putt fell, McIlroy’s celebration showed the importance of the day.

“I think mentally today was probably one of the toughest rounds I’ve ever had to play because it would be really easy to let your emotions get in the way and I just had to really concentrate on focusing on myself,” said McIlroy afterward. “Forget who was up there on the leaderboard, and I did that really, really well.”

Hero Dubai Desert Classic
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after holing the winning putt on the 18th green during the final round of the Hero Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 30, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, McIlroy was asked to recount the moment.

“What I remember, I remember standing on the 10th tee and I think Patrick had just made eagle and I’m just like (dropping head), ‘Had to be him.’

“But I think just the sort of mental fortitude I showed on that back nine to not sort of let my emotions get the better of me and really stay focused, and yeah, just to make that birdie on the last to win by one, yeah, it meant — in the grand scheme of things, are people going to remember my third Dubai Desert Classic, I don’t know.

“But it meant a lot to me. I felt like I came through a bit of, not adversity, but I really just had to control my mind and my thoughts and my emotions on that back nine. I felt like I did a really golf club of that.”

Dubai Desert Classic: Photos

At a golf course where McIlroy owns an impressive course history — 3rd in 2022 on top of his wins in ’23, ’15 and ’09— it’s easy to see why he’s the favorite in ’24, especially when you account for his runner-up finish last week to Tommy Fleetwood at the Dubai Invitational.

Before his solo second, McIlroy has played competitively just once since the Ryder Cup, the DP World Tour Championship in November, a tournament McIlroy admits he wasn’t “100 percent motivated.” (McIlroy had already locked up the season-long points title.)

“I feel like I’ve had a three-month off-season, basically. So I think once — you’re going to come back and play,” he said. “You’re going to make some of those mistakes early on, and you know, it’s good to play an event like last week where you can learn from them and try to put those things right this week.

“And in the bigger scheme of things, you know, with this being a Rolex Series Event and the success that I’ve had here, look, I would have loved to have won last week.

“But even with all those mistakes I made, the fact that I still had a one-shot lead going down the last, you know, it says to me that my game is in really good shape, and I should be quite excited for this week.”

After his title defense in Dubai, McIlroy is headed to the States for the PGA Tour’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, the second signature event of the season.

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Patrick Reed’s $750 million lawsuit against Golfweek, others has been dismissed again

“Reed does not meet the required pleading of actual malice to hold the press liable for defamation,” Corrigan wrote.

For a second time, Patrick Reed’s $750 million defamation lawsuit against a number of golf media members and outlets — including Golfweek — has been dismissed.

Originally filed in August of 2022 in Texas and later refiled in Florida the next month, the lawsuit included the likes of Golf Channel’s Damon Hack, Shane Bacon and Eamon Lynch, as well as Golfweek and its parent company, Gannett. Lynch serves as a host on Golf Channel’s “Golf Today,” but is also a Golfweek columnist.

The lawsuit alleged conspiracy, defamation, injurious falsehood and tortious interference and that the defenders had acted “in concert as joint tortfeasors.”

But U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan, who dismissed the suit last November, did so again on Wednesday as part of a 78-page ruling.

“Many of the statements are not about Reed. Some statements are about LIV Golf, of which Reed is a member, but not specifically about Reed. Others are matters of opinion or permissible rhetorical hyperbole. Still others are statements of fact, the truth of which are not challenged,” Corrigan wrote.

Larry Klayman, Reed’s attorney, earlier stated, “The PGA Tour’s and its ‘partner’ the NBC’s Golf Channel’s mission is to destroy a top LIV Golf Tour player, his family, as well as all of the LIV Golf players, to further their agenda and alleged collaborative efforts to destroy the new LIV Golf Tour. As alleged in the Complaint, these calculated malicious attacks have created hate, aided and abetted a hostile workplace environment, and have caused substantial financial and emotional damage and harm to Mr. Reed and his family.”

Yet Corrigan wrote:

“Reed does not meet the required pleading of actual malice to hold the press liable for defamation. While Reed may be frustrated at the negative media coverage he receives (some of which seems over the top), under Florida law and the First Amendment, Reed fails to bring actionable defamation claims and his cases therefore must be dismissed.”

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Photos: 2023 LIV Golf Chicago at Rich Harvest Farms

The Saudi-backed circuit returns after over a month off.

The LIV Golf League returns this week to Chicago for its 12th event of the season. The Saudi-backed circuit has been off for a bit, with its last event coming over a month ago at Trump Bedminster in New Jersey — Cameron Smith claimed the individual title by seven shots while his team, Ripper GC, won the team competition.

With just the Chicago and Jeddah stops before the Team Championship in Miami, 4Aces GC leads the team point standings with Torque GC in second and Stinger GC in third. On the individual side, Smith leads the way followed by Talor Gooch and Patrick Reed.

Here are some of the best images from the week in Chicago.

Patrick Reed talks Ryder Cup, playing all three tours at the 2023 Open

“I was that one guy when they said no one can play all three. Well, I did it. Shocker.”

Patrick Reed hasn’t had much success at the Open Championship over the last two years. After missing the cut in 2021 at Royal St. George’s, Reed tied for 47th at St. Andrews in 2022.

However, he’s off to a great start this time around, posting an opening-round 1-under 70 at Royal Liverpool on Thursday morning.

“Oh, it was frustrating,” Reed said of his round. “Felt like I hit the ball pretty well for the most part. Left myself a lot of good looks, a lot of good spots. Just didn’t really make anything.

“The game feels good. The number is just not producing. That very easily should have been a 4-, 5-, 6-under par round, and I shoot 1-under par. I guess I could say it’s kind of one of my better first rounds I’ve had in a while. I’m having to play huge catch-up.”

Open Championship 2023: Leaderboard, scores, news, tee times, more

Despite this week being the final men’s major championship until the Masters in April, it’s easy to look forward to September’s Ryder Cup. Reed has been a part of three United States vs. Europe battles, but missed out on the Whistling Straits blowout two years ago.

His move to the LIV Golf League has made his journey to earning a spot on Zach Johnson’s team much more difficult, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Just look at LIV’s Brooks Koepka, who currently owns an automatic qualifying spot thanks to his performances in majors this year, including a win at the PGA Championship.

Reed understands what he has to do to earn a trip to Rome, and he’s trying to keep it as simple as possible.

“I mean, the only thing I can do on that is go out and play well this week, go out and have a chance hopefully to win the tournament on Sunday and put myself in that position where they have to think about it,” Reed said.

“That’s the thing; playing good golf takes care of everything. Takes care of these events, the majors, takes care of the Ryder Cups and all that. Just going and playing your way on, but playing well. Yeah, the guys that are part of LIV of course we’re on the 8-ball with that because of course we only have four tournaments that count. All we can do is continue playing solid golf and give yourself chances because winning trophies takes care of that.”

Patrick Reed of the United States reacts on the ninth during the morning fourball matches of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on September 29, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Reed mentioned that he has talked to Johnson this week, but the conversation wasn’t about golf.

The 2018 Masters champ was later asked about potentially playing on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf League as the landscape of the sport is being transformed by the Tour-PIF framework agreement.

“I’ve always wanted to play and keep my European Tour status. I’m an honorary lifetime member. I take pride in that,” he said. “PGA Tour, yeah of course I’d love to play. The first year of LIV I would have played the minimum — I already played the minimum on the PGA Tour.

“I have played every event on LIV and I would have played the minimum on the European Tour. I was that one guy when they said no one can play all three. Well, I did it. Shocker.

“But that’s the thing. Where I play, who knows. If I play PGA Tour, LIV, or if I played European Tour. The biggest thing is there should be no reason why if we’ve qualified well we shouldn’t be able to. People say you can’t make your cake and eat it, as well, but how many PGA Tour players go over and play a European Tour for money? They’re getting appearance fees. They’re not showing up to play for competition. They’re getting paid to do that. It shouldn’t matter as long as you play the minimum and do what you’re supposed to, you play, and that’s fine.

“If you play the minimum on the European Tour and you earn enough points to keep your card, you should be able to play. If you play the minimum on the PGA Tour and you have enough FedExCup points to keep your card, more power to you.”

Reed will tee off at 7:31 a.m. ET Friday for his second round.

Cameron Smith wins for second time at LIV Golf London; Patrick Reed leads 4Aces to team title

Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces claimed another team title at Centurion Club.

Popular names dominated the leaderboard at LIV Golf London as Cameron Smith claimed the individual title while Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces claimed the team title Sunday.

The 29-year-old Aussie claimed his second win since joining the Greg Norman led and Saudi Arabia-backed circuit, this time by just a single shot at 15 under over his Ripper GC teammate Marc Leishman and Patrick Reed of the 4Aces. Smith made bogey on the par-5 18th to sign for a 3-under 68, opening the door for Reed (65) who failed to take advantage and made par. Leishman (66) made birdie to tie Reed at 14 under with Louis Oosthuizen (68) in fourth at 12 under and Johnson (67) rounding out the top five at 10 under.

Photos: LIV Golf London at Centurion Club

Smith’s late bogey doomed Ripper to second at 33 under, one shot behind the 4Aces who claimed the win at 34 under. Oosthuizen and his Stinger GC finished third at 29 under.

The league returns to action next month with LIV Golf Greenbrier, Aug. 4-6, at the Old White at The Greenbrier.

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Bryson DeChambeau continues trend of LIV Golf players contending at majors at 2023 U.S. Open

Another men’s major championship, another LIV Golf player near the top of the leaderboard.

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LOS ANGELES – Another men’s major championship, another LIV Golf player near the top of the leaderboard.

At the Masters it was Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed leading the charge for the upstart circuit led by Greg Norman and financially backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. Koepka then won the PGA Championship, with Bryson DeChambeau just a few shots back. At this week’s 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club, DeChambeau is back in the mix once again.

The 2020 U.S. Open winner shot a 3-under 67 in the opening round at the exclusive club in Beverly Hills and walked off the course T-3 behind Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele, who each made major championship history with their efforts of 8-under 62.

“Pretty much how I thought it would play,” said DeChambeau of Thursday morning’s fair conditions. “The greens were definitely receptive, which was nice. I think they’re going to get a lot firmer. Obviously tomorrow afternoon is going to be firm. This afternoon is going to be firm, and the wind is picking up, so it’s not going to be too easy. Hopefully the wind isn’t present tomorrow. That’ll be a huge advantage for us in the early wave.”

U.S. Open: Leaderboard, tee times, hole-by-hole

“But you had to get after it today. If you didn’t, you’re going to be behind the 8-ball,” he continued. “Lucky enough to shoot a good score today.”

The former bulked-up bomber is still no small fry but has slimmed down since he brought Winged Foot to its knees in 2020. Before his opening round, DeChambeau spent a considerable amount of time on the range Wednesday mashing drivers and working to replicate a swing feel he used to have.

“I’ve been hitting more golf balls than I would like to ever. It’s just, again, I’m trying to figure out what I did in 2018 that made it so repeatable, and I’m very close to figuring it out,” said DeChambeau. “Just going to a take a little bit more time, little bit more grinding, a little more thought. Got to come up with something unique that allows me to be super stable through impact like I was.”

Starting his round on the back, DeChambeau was even par through his opening nine holes before he caught fire on his second nine. He sandwiched two birdies around a bad bogey on the par-4 second hole and added two more on Nos. 6 and 10, a drivable par 4 and two-shot par 5, respectively.

“Yeah, certainly there’s the idea of laying up and having a nice wedge in there, but if you miss your wedge you’re in the stuff,” DeChambeau said of the risk-reward to go for the green on No. 6. “I think personally just being in the stuff right off the tee and chipping it up there hopefully close on the green and giving yourself a 20-footer for birdie, worst case scenario, is the best thing you can do every day. I’ve been going for it, and hopefully it pays off.”

DeChambeau fancies himself a big-brain thinker, and noted how every course has its own unique strategy that you can apply. He was able to exploit Winged Foot with his distance, which is still an advantage here at LACC, but the course requires more than just a long ball.

“This golf course you’ve got to be a great putter. You’ve got to have great iron play into the greens. You’ve got to be disciplined. It teases you wanting to go for certain shots in certain places, and you’ve got to be a great driver of the ball,” he said. “Everybody thinks the fairways are wide. No, no, no. If you pull it or push it it’s rolling out of the fairway. That’s how firm and fast they are and how much slope there is. You can say they’re wide fairways but realistically they’re like 25-yard fairways at best in some areas.”

DeChambeau struggled early in the year at the Masters with a missed cut and also in LIV Golf events, with finishes of T-23, T-44, T-16, T-26 and T-19 in the first five 48-player field tournaments of the season. Over the last two months, he finished T-5 in Tulsa and T-9 in Washington, D.C., as well as T-4 at last month’s PGA Championship.

“If I have what I had at the PGA, I’ll be contending (this week) for sure.”

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3 sleeper picks to win the 2023 U.S. Open, including Patrick Reed at 80/1

Reed grabbed a top-20 finish at last month’s PGA Championship.

The best players in the world have arrived at Los Angeles Country Club in California for the 2023 U.S. Open, the third men’s major championship of the year.

Matt Fitzpatrick enters the week as the defending champion thanks to his win over Will Zalatoris and Scottie Scheffler at The Country Club outside Boston last season. Fitzpatrick added another win to his resume earlier this year at the RBC Heritage.

World No. 1 Scheffler is the clear betting favorite at +700 followed by Masters champion Jon Rahm at +1100 and PGA winner Brooks Koepka at +1200.

Big names have dominated major championships for the last few seasons, but that doesn’t mean a longshot can’t win in the City of Angels.

Here are three sleeper picks for the 2023 U.S. Open.

More U.S. Open betting: Expert picks, odds

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Is this Patrick Reed’s Masters-themed Porsche on a salvage website with less than 400 miles on it?

Patrick Reed bought himself a Masters-themed Porsche after his 2018 win. It was just found on a salvage website.

Patrick Reed slipped on the green jacket in 2018 and to celebrate bought himself a $450,000 Porsche 911 GT2 RS. The best part? The car is Masters themed with dark-green paint and yellow brake calipers. It’s a bad-ass ride.

Well, it was.

Originally reported by The Drive, a car that resembles Reed’s trophy Porsche was recently found on a salvage website with 361 miles on it.

Although it’s not clear as to who the driver was at the time of the accident, the VIN number on the Copart listing — which now says the car has been sold — matches the one of Reed’s car, according to The Drive. The sale location of the car is Houston, Texas, just down the road from where Reed lives in The Woodlands.

When he received the new whip, the Masters champ posted photos of it to his Instagram.

Lewin Day, a reporter for The Drive, said on Twitter he has reached out to Reed’s team but has yet to hear back.

According to the listing, the wrecked car was sold for $132,000.

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Patrick Reed said he heard ‘a lot of ‘Go 4Aces’ out there’ in impressive T-4 finish at 2023 Masters

Reed admitted to hearing “murmurs here and there” during the week but added that overall the patrons were supportive.

Patrick Reed birdied the 72nd hole to cap a final round 68. The fourth-place finish marks the first time since winning the tournament in 2018 that he’s placed in the top-5.

“I felt like I hit the ball a little better today than I scored,” Reed said. “It was weird. The wind seemed to kind of swirl a little bit, especially early on in the round.”

Reed double-bogeyed No. 2, a par-5, to drop to 1 under overall. Following the miscue, however, he let loose, birdieing Nos. 3, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15 and 18.

He bogeyed Nos. 14 and 17.

“I bounced back and made birdie on 3 and missed good looks on 4, 5,” Reed said. “Just kind of like an up-and-down day.”

Reed was the only player in the field to shoot each round at even par or better — 71, 70, 72, 68.

When asked where his game needs improvement, the Augusta State product said, “my distance wedges could probably get a little better. Hit too many wedge shots this week to 15, 20 feet rather than normally five, 10 feet. Can tighten that up.”

Reed, who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, admitted to hearing “murmurs here and there” during the week but added that overall the patrons were supportive.

“The fans were good. I heard a lot of ‘Go 4Aces’ out there,” Reed said. “As a whole, everyone was great. They were very respectful, and the fans were how they always are. They’re always really good.”

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Are LIV Golf players allowed to participate in the 2023 Masters?

Is the Masters allowing LIV golfers to participate?

The 2023 Masters Tournament will be the first Masters since LIV Golf started its tour in June 2022. So a natural question this year is whether those golfers who defected from the PGA Tour will be allowed to play in the Masters.

Masters Leaderboard: Live leaderboard, Schedule, Tee times

Augusta National Golf Club and Masters Tournament chairman Fred Ridley answered the question in February, saying in a statement that eligible LIV players would receive invites, though he was disappointed by their decision to branch out.

“We will invite those eligible under our current criteria to compete in the 2023 Masters Tournament,” Ridley said. “Regrettably, recent actions have divided men’s professional golf by diminishing the virtues of the game and the meaningful legacies of those who built it. Although we are disappointed in these developments, our focus is to honor the tradition of bringing together a preeminent field of golfers this coming April.”

In total, 18 LIV golfers qualified for the Masters:

  • Abraham Ancer
  • Bryson DeChambeau
  • Sergio Garcia
  • Talor Gooch
  • Dustin Johnson
  • Brooks Koepka
  • Jason Kokrak
  • Phil Mickelson
  • Kevin Na
  • Joaquin Niemann
  • Louis Oosthuizen
  • Mito Peirera
  • Thomas Pieters
  • Patrick Reed
  • Charl Schwartzel
  • Cameron Smith
  • Harold Varner
  • Bubba Watson

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