Patrick Reed deliberately improves lie in waste bunker, receives two-stroke penalty

Patrick Reed was leading the Hero World Challenge entering the third round on Friday. After his round, he trailed Gary Woodland (-13), Henrik Stenson (-12), Tiger Woods, Justin Thomas and Jon Rahm (-11).

Reed would have finished at 12-under with Stenson, but during the round he was caught by cameras improving his lie in a waste bunker on the 11th hole after his ball came to rest in a foot print.

Players are not required to rake waste bunkers after entering them.

Here’s the video:

Now, since the rules have been updated, Reed is allowed to ground his club in the sand, but after grounding his club he used the head of it on a practice swing to improve his lie.

Rules officials reviewed the tape provided by Golf Channel and gave Reed a two-stroke penalty which sent his score up from 72 to 74.

The most interesting part of this is that Reed was caught doing the same thing in 2015, when it was a penalty to even make contact with the sand.

While I would say that Tiger needs to make a decision on whether or not to keep Reed on the Presidents Cup team for this egregious act, I don’t believe that Woods will make a change this late.

Whatever happens moving forward, Reed will have everyone and their brother watching him very closely any time he enters a bunker.

Author: Michael Shamburger

Michael is the founder and Editor in Chief of The Stiff Shaft. He spent 15 years covering golf for TheBigLead, Golfweek, and Golf Channel. Don't base your opinion on those of others. Do your research and form your own opinions.

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