Patrick Reed is about as polarizing a figure as you can find on the PGA Tour. His talent is undeniable — nine Tour wins and a green jacket headline his resume — but he’s also been embroiled in several controversies, some dating back to his college days.
Unfair or not, it’s these controversies that have come to define Reed during his professional career. The numerous imbroglios have also not earned the 31-year-old many allies on Tour. In an era in which bromances are common in pro golf, Reed is a lone wolf.
Patrick Reed episode a reminder that winning doesn’t always take care of everything
In that respect, Reed’s former college coach Josh Gregory compares him to Michael Jordan.
“He’s like Michael Jordan,” Gregory said on this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar. “He’s not out there to make friends.”
Gregory continued by saying Reed embraces the villain mentality. When controversy pops up, he elevates his game to prove the doubters wrong.
Reed’s most recent controversy came at the Farmers Insurance Open earlier this year. A mix-up with a volunteer turned into an improper drop for Reed, and the criticism was swift to follow.
When Gregory saw the incident unfolding, he texted Subpar co-host Colt Knost with a bold prediction that Reed would win by 10 shots the following day. Reed went on to run away from the field and win by five strokes in the final round.
“Obviously he’s not at the talent level of Michael Jordan, but he has a similar mentality,” Gregory said. “I don’t care what others think about me. I don’t care if you think I’m the bad guy. I’m going to step on your throat and I’m going to beat you.”
Check out the entire video below as Gregory discusses coaching Reed, recruiting Bryson DeChambeau to SMU and more.