Reed's Caddy in an "altercation"

[stingerfade]

Pretty big false equivalence there. Worldwide pro team golf event vs. a local muni round? Doubtful there’s a crowd watching you and your buddies hack it around lol. But to be serious, I am very outspoken about the boorish drunken behavior at golf events and think they should be tazed and escorted out for life so I’m not condoning what the fan said to reed but I’m also saying he’s not an innocent bystander, which is what I’m sure he’ll whine about next week or his wife will twit about it.

[Z1ggy16]

I agree but the venues want cash above all else. Fans bring in money and these fans like to drink. Once humans stop carrying about making money, maybe things will change.

[paulshack]

I believe they should allow this shit

 

These idiot fans coming into their playing field and looking to cause shit, well they caused some shit, let em at it

 

Dude carrying a bag of weapons

 

[oikos1]

Of course the standard is because the caddie is a "professional". A professional representing a professional organization. Scuffles at a local muni or country club have nothing to do with it. Had the fan initiated physical contact on Reed or his caddie, then this is a completely different story.

 

Are you suggesting that when words of dislike are spoken, a representative of a professional organization is within their rights to physically assault the person who said such words of dislike?

[ChronicSlicer]

Who would seriously want to be?

[MK7Golf21]

Yea, but they are still human. Not saying what he did was right at all but they are human. You playing hockey is way different than playing in the presidents cups on pro level in a foreign land. Not to mention in hockey you are well separated from the spectators. This guy ran up to them yelling stupid stuff when he was pretty down, ever heard the phrase don’t poke the bear?

As a spectator you can’t expect to act like a complete offensive fool and not run into confrontation no matter who was right of wrong when it got physical.

[oikos1]

Do we know whether or not that was exactly what the fan wanted? To instigate a confrontation? Plenty of fans out there that would take a punch in the face for a healthy settlement with a pro athlete. Reeds caddie, whether a family member or not, has got to be better than that.

[Les Strokes]

 

Reed's caddy sits down on his foot, lol.

[Carolina Golfer 2]

I had Bullet season tickets for several years in the section next to his. He was brutal to every opponent. But never vulgar or over the line. Barkley often had good natured exchanges with him.

[marmooskapaul]

It's all fun and game until one of the fans does a Monica Seles type crime. You never know who your dealing with and these fans get too close...sometimes.

[MK7Golf21]

Well it was his caddie, doubt he has as much money as Reed. He only pushed him anyway, now if you punch someone and do some damage, yea you can get sued among other legal issues

[One Putter]

Ban all parties from all golf events. Problem solved. Let's save our time and outrage for something meaningful.

[farmer]

Back in the Tiger/Stevie days, what would have happened in an equivalent situation? Stevie would have connected with the punch, and the tone on here would have been entirely different. This is what happens when alcohol and idiots collide.

[caniac6]

There should have been better security around these guys. These drunk idiots should never be able to get close enough to be considered a threat.

[bscinstnct]

Curious,

 

Did SW ever lay his hands on a fan?

[oikos1]

Instead of conjecturing what may or may not have happened back in the day, here's a real life example of a better way to handle a heckler:

 

[bladehunter]

I bet it was effective though. As in. Will the same cat be out doing it Tomorrow ? Nope. When simple assault ceased to be a $50 fine in the states , that’s when people started getting out of pocket.

 

The behavior of fans cannot be excused away because they are paying customers.

[ChronicSlicer]

Should parents teach this approach to their children when being heckled/bullied/picked on in school? Only the wealthy believe money is the answer to everything.

[Krt22]

Talk sh*t get hit!

[Scotty1140]

D bag fan.

D bag caddie.

D bag Patrick Reed.

[Dpavs]

Alcohol and hot heads have done a lot to improve the game. Maybe if we are lucky, within the next year or so there we can have mob riots after unfavorable match results!

[Marco]

The heckler be like Oh my arm! It's broken!!! on Make a GIF

[BeerPerHole]

The fans didn’t need to pile it on Reed like they have.

[Hawkeye77]

Absolutely.

 

[Hawkeye77]

I agree with Els and was surprised when he spoke out (and handled it well in press conference). Didn't mind Tiger's message, but he didn't need to say much of anything and the idea he's trying to help Reed out somehow is just silly, especially given the caddie incident had just happened.

When the shoe gets firmly on the other foot, some folks get a bit hypocritical about fan behavior. Guessing we don't know even a fraction of the crap international players have put up with in New York. Ryder Cup in Hazeltine was absolutely terrible. Ryder Cup, Waste Management both have their spillover effects. Always funny to some if Sergio or Monty got roasted, but Ernie is probably right that what is happening in Australia isn't even close to what happens over here with some fans (and yes, it's a minority, but still).

Booze and idiots mostly, but PGA Tour is partly responsible for the culture and Ryder Cup as well not to mention media and how some of it gets hyped to the point it virtually encourages the boobery.

Of course everyone agrees it's bad, but Reed gets no sympathy for anything coming his way today and given the way our crowds act no point throwing stones.

Control the booze, be proactive on enforcement and call 'em both ways at the events and at different events.

 

[bladehunter]

I’m all fir punching , tasing , jailing unruly american fans too. I’m all for equal opportunity idiot persecution.

[oikos1]

Lol. I guess you didn't listen to the entire interview. I do enjoy listening to the tough guy golfer talk throughout the thread though.

[LeoLeo99]

Agreed. As long as I get to define unruly.

After being on the fence regarding Reed for years, I'm firmly in the camp he and his caddie should be sent home on the next flight back to States. The Americans send 11 out for singles today.

[GeorgeHWB]

Kick him off the tour, Doug!

[Titleist 670]

What I can't figure out is what exactly security is doing at these events. I don't think Pat Reed's or anyone's caddie can start getting physical just because there are unruly fans, but when fans are clearly intoxicated and using foul language, how hard is it to get rid of them? I've been to a lot of golf events and the annoying ones stick out like a sore thumb because for every unruly fan there are hundreds in a given area who are being perfectly quiet.

And I am all for good-natured heckling (no issues for fans getting on Reed for shoveling, or booing him, etc.) but when you start acting like a drunk frat boy just dropping f-bombs, it's time to go to the drunk tank and get off the course.

In this case I think it's pretty funny that Reed and his caddie were all for the crazy crowds when Reed was playing well in Ryder Cups overseas or at Hazeltine, and now that he is stinking up the joint they think the tournament needs to be cleaned up.