On the basis of Patrick Reed being widely lacerated for his expletive-ridden outburst on Thursday, it is only fair to recognise the genuine nature of the Texan’s contrition 24 hours later.
Reed’s outburst towards himself after three-putting on his 10th hole in the first round of the WGC-HSBC Champions event will inevitably cost him by way of a heavy fine. It will also damage the reputation of a player who provided the few bright spots for the United States during their latest Ryder Cup defeat.
Rather than bemoan the circumstances upon which this matter came to light – by way of television microphones – or the furore which followed it, Reed has offered a mea culpa regarding his actions. Others, suffice to say, would either not have done similarly or sought to dodge the issue entirely.
“I made a stupid error, that is for sure, and I am sorry for the words I used,” Reed said. “It never should have happened. This is a gentleman’s game so that shouldn’t happen. All I can do is learn from it and move on.
“We all know there are microphones out there. When it comes down to it, you have to know how to control and handle your emotions. Spending the whole day in the rough and then three-putting that hole definitely got the better of me. I will learn from it.
“I was so in the moment that I didn’t remember saying it. I remember being upset. I heard about it after the round and I wanted to apologise for what I said because this is something not to be proud of. It is something you can’t have happen, all I can do is not let it happen again.”
Reed has previous for newsworthy comments. He declared himself a top-five player in the world before hitting a competitive ball in a major championship and revelled in playing a controversial role with the home crowd during last month’s Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.
There is talent to back up this background noise, though; Reed won the WGC-Cadillac Championship at Doral in March. Then aged 23, that marked a third main Tour victory in just eight months.
“I am young, I have grown up with temper issues on and off the golf course,” Reed explained. “I live and die through every shot, I am passionate about the game. I love the game so much. I expect perfection even though nobody can ever be perfect in this game. It is something I have to learn to deal with and learn how to handle because when I do, I definitely play better.
“The passion I have for the game is never going to change. The drive to play well and win is never going to change. It’s just that if I am upset with myself, at the level of golf I am playing at nowadays, I cannot have outbursts.”
Graeme McDowell, who partnered Reed for the opening 36 holes here, admitted he had not heard the tirade in question. “I know from playing with him that Patrick regrets it and I am 100% sure he didn’t mean anything by it,” said McDowell. “He has youthful exuberance and 99% of that has been positive.”
Bubba Watson revealed Reed had sought counsel from him at the players’ hotel on Thursday evening. “We’ve all done things we’re not proud of, no matter if it’s language or attitude or what,” Watson said. “I think everybody on this planet has done something that they are not proud of.
“I said: ‘Go out and be the talent that you are and play good golf and just tell them that you’re sorry.’ Time heals everything.
“It’s one of those things. It’s sad. It’s sad it comes out but just like my own personal problems, that’s how you learn from it. That’s how you become a better man, and that’s what I told Patrick.”
Watson carded a second-round 67, including a back nine of 31 and five closing birdies in a row, to move to within four shots of the halfway leader McDowell. At 10 under, the Northern Irishman is three clear of Ian Poulter, who claimed to have produced his best golf of 2014 after signing off with a 67 of his own.
