Controversy over Patrick Reed’s victory

With a final 68-stroke round, American Patrick Reed won the Farmers Insurance Open (PGA Tour / $ 7.5 million), which was contested in La Jolla-San Diego, California. Reed, 30, had three birdies, an eagle and a bogey in the final round in 68 strokes, four under par. In the standings, he beat the Swede Henrik Nolander by four strokes and the Americans Tony Finau, Ryan Palmer, Xander Sc Chaudele and the Norwegian Viktor Hovland by five strokes. This is his ninth victory on the PGA Tour. This success was nevertheless marred by a controversy linked to the correct application of the rules. In the third round, Patrick Reed gave himself a free drop, believing that his ball was “plugged” in the big rough. However, the television images prove that this ball rebounded and that it is therefore highly unlikely that it could have been buried in the ground. Reed called a referee to endorse his decision, but by then he had already quit! The subject fuels many conversations on the golf planet because the American has already known, in the recent past, problems with the interpretation of the rules.