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Patrick Reed wins Famers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines under cloud of controversy

The guy with a history of cheating issues had another one, but walks away with the trophy in San Diego by five shots.

By Collin Sherwin
Patrick Reed stands with his caddie on the 2nd hole tee during the final round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South on January 31, 2021 in San Diego, California. Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Patrick Reed picked up his ninth career PGA Tour win on Sunday with a five-shot win at the 2021 Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego, California. It moves him to 10th in the FedEx Cup standings.

But because Patrick Reed was involved, there was of course controversy.

On the 10th hole during yesterday’s third round, he claimed an embedded ball to give himself a free drop on a ball that it seems almost physically impossible to be embedded.

Here’s the entire exchange between Reed and his fellow competitors, a tournament volunteer, and a rules official. Decide for yourself.

To be fair, during the same round Rory McIlroy also took embedded relief on a ball that seems to bounce, and he didn’t even call a rules official to do it.

It would be one thing if Reed hadn’t been around rules issues before, but his sand movement via practice swing in 2019 was an embarrassment for which he was later penalized.

He’s also not exactly been the most popular golfer going back to his days at Georgia and before his two Division I national championships at Augusta State. But his ability to focus and bear down in the face of chaos around him has been a strength throughout his career, and he’ll be amongst the favorites to win again at Torrey Pines come the US Open in June.

Reed was +2500 before the tournament began to win the trophy at DraftKings Sportsbook:

Top 5 cashes (all finished at -9) with pre-tournament odds:
Tony Finau: +450
Henrik Norlander: +2500
Ryan Palmer: +1000
Xander Schauffle: +300
Viktor Hovland: +700

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