LIV Golf star Patrick Reed has revealed the emotional toll years of cheating accusations have taken on his family, saying his children have been bullied at school because of his reputation.
The former Masters champion, once dubbed “the most hated man in golf”, has told AFP the perception that he has bent the rules throughout his career continues to affect his personal life long after the headlines faded.
“My kids have been bullied at school, so that’s where it’s uncalled for,” Reed told AFP while competing at the Asian Tour’s International Series Philippines.
Reed, 35, has faced persistent claims of unsportsmanlike behaviour since his early years on the PGA Tour, despite repeatedly denying any wrongdoing.
At the 2019 Hero World Challenge, things escalated somewhat when Reed was penalized two strokes for having been deemed by officials to have improved his lie in a bunker by pressing down on the sand with his practice swings (Rule 8.1a(4)).
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The incident, which led to numerous accusations of cheating within the golf world, occurred on the 11th hole at Albany.
The Hero World Challenge is Tiger Woods’ annual tournament in The Bahamas.
Reed acknowledged the rules violation, accepted the penalty, but maintained it was unintentional and a different camera angle would have shown his lie was not improved.
Fast forward six years, and Reed says the criticism he still receives today has gone too far, particularly when it involves his family.
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“They say a lot of stuff, it’s all false,” said Reed.
“When people start saying things about your children, it’s like — you don’t even know my kids. Why would you bring them into it?”
The American said that while he can handle being called names or criticised himself, involving his children — 11-year-old Windsor-Wells and eight-year-old Barrett Benjamin — crosses a line.
Reed said: “It’s not fun having to deal with some of the stuff that we deal with. The great thing is I have an amazing support team at home and an amazing family.”
Reed thinks cheating allegations have gone too far
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Reed, who is playing in the Philippines for the first time this week, has been warmly received by fans across Asia, where he has built a strong following in recent years.
The former Ryder Cup star was all smiles at Sta. Elena Golf Club, signing autographs and taking selfies with spectators.
He will defend his Hong Kong Open title next week, returning to the site of one of his most memorable performances after shooting a sensational 59 there last year.
“The kind of person I am on and off the golf course hasn’t been portrayed very well in the media throughout my career,” Reed said.
“It’s almost impossible to control others. All you can do is control yourself.”
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The 4Aces GC star added that the people who meet him in person often come away with a completely different impression.
“Everyone I play pro-ams with and everybody I meet are like, ‘Man, you’re nothing like what the media portrays you as’. So as long as that continues happening, at some point it will turn around.”
Reed, who has played on LIV Golf ever since the breakaway league began in 2022, also opened up on his disappointment at missing out on Keegan Bradley’s 2025 US Ryder Cup team at Bethpage Black in New York last month.
Bradley’s team were defeated by Luke Donald’s Europe 15-13 – it marked the first away win at the Ryder Cup since Medinah in 2012.
Once known as Captain America for his fiery Ryder Cup performances, Reed said missing out on a place in this year’s US team “definitely hurt”.
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Despite finishing third at The Masters in April and winning LIV Golf Dallas in June, Reed failed to receive one of Bradley’s six captain’s picks.
“You’re always disappointed when you don’t make those teams — it means so much to me to represent my country,” said Reed.
“It definitely hurts, and I definitely feel like I could have been a huge asset to the team, especially at a place I’ve won before.”
Reed said Bradley handled the selection process with respect and stayed in touch throughout.
“That was his decision, but I feel like he tried to put out the best team he could.”
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Even so, he admitted that not even his inclusion would likely have changed the result.
“Through the first two days I don’t really care what team he threw out there — I don’t think we’d have been able to hang with the way the Europeans played.
“From top to bottom on Friday and Saturday it was just unreal.”
Reed is still hungry to make the Ryder Cup team
Reed, who remains one of golf’s most divisive figures, hasn’t given up on returning to the Ryder Cup fold and says representing his country at Adare Manor, Ireland, in 2027 would mean an awful lot to him.
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“That would be great, yeah. I love playing, especially on foreign soil. It’s always good to go over there and be the guy that’s a thorn in their side.”
While Reed accepts his reputation may never completely change, he insists his focus is on his game and his family.
“All you can do is live the right way, play the right way, and keep doing what you’re doing. At some point, people will see the truth.”
Reed currently finds himself at 9-under in T19 and eight shots off the pace heading into the final round of International Series Philippines.
Dustin Johnson is also in the field and he’s one shot worse on 8-under par as it stands.
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