Patrick Reed says the 2018 Ryder Cup controversy is over: ‘We’ve all moved on’

Patrick Reed rocked the boat at the 2018 Ryder Cup in Paris, but his jabs about the team’s communication and pairings didn’t prevent him from getting a Presidents Cup pick a year later.

Reed, who captain Tiger Woods selected with one of his four captain’s picks last week, spoke to the media on Tuesday and said that, no, he was not concerned that the events from Le Golf National would hurt his chances of getting picked.

“Tiger and I and all the guys talked after France way before,” Reed said. “That was all put to bed, and we all talked about it. We’ve all moved on, and we’re all just really getting excited for this year and to focus on going out and doing what we’re supposed to do, and that’s to play the best golf we can, win points, and have fun while doing it.”

After the Americans’ lopsided loss to Europe in Paris, Reed publicly aired his grievances to the New York Times. He said he was “blindsided” when captain Jim Furyk didn’t pair him with Spieth, even though the pair was 4-1-2 together and even though Reed told Furyk he wanted to be paired with him.

“The issue’s obviously with Jordan not wanting to play with me,” Reed told the Times. “I don’t have any issue with Jordan. When it comes right down to it, I don’t care if I like the person I’m paired with or if the person likes me as long as it works and it sets up the team for success. He and I know how to make each other better. We know how to get the job done.”

Spieth was paired with Justin Thomas and they went 3-1 together, and Reed and Woods were 0-2. Although Reed won his singles match, he sat a session each previous day, and later questioned that move by Furyk as well: “For somebody as successful in the Ryder Cup as I am, I don’t think it’s smart to sit me twice,” he said. He also told the media that Woods apologized for letting him down after their first loss.

Brooks Koepka later said Reed apologized to the entire team via a group text.

On Tuesday, Reed was asked if his “bad boy of American golf” image was fair.

“Personally, I just feel like I just have a lot of passion for the game. I love to go in and basically feel like my back is up against the wall and go out and try to prove something every week I play, whether it’s during a team event, whether it’s at home, just go out and try to prove myself and to go out and play good golf,” he said. “You know, it’s just been something that’s always been a part of me.”

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