Patrick Reed says Team USA has moved on from 2018 Ryder Cup problems
Patrick Reed has told the media that the controversy surrounding Team USA after the 2018 Ryder Cup is old news and the players have moved on.
The 2018 Ryder Cup was surrounded with controversy for Team USA as they were dismantled by Europe. Patrick Reed well and truly rocked the boat, when he called out captain Jim Furyk's decision to sit him out twice during the event at Le Golf National, while he also grilled Jordan Spieth for supposedly not wanting to play with him.
“The issue’s obviously with Jordan not wanting to play with me,” Reed told the Times after Team USA's Ryder Cup defeat. “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.”
Reed was also annoyed with Furyk for leaving him out of two sessions: “For somebody as successful in the Ryder Cup as I am, I don’t think it’s smart to sit me twice.”
It made headlines all over the world and people were still talking about it for some time and even more players were getting involved, with Ryder Cup legend Justin Leonard stating that he had never seen someone burn bridges the way Reed did.
RELATED: Justin Leonard rips into Patrick Reed for Ryder Cup attitude
Brooks Koepka told the media that Reed apologised for his actions via a group text following the Ryder Cup, but it's no secret that Reed struggles to connect with other players on Tour and many people believed that would be a barrier when it came to the Presidents Cup.
Reed failed to qualify automatically for this year's Presidents Cup in Melbourne, but Woods included the 2018 Masters champion as one of his captains picks, alongside Gary Woodland, Tony Finau and Woods himself.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Reed said that he was never concerned that his Ryder Cup antics would hinder his chances of being selected for the team
“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.
“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. You know, it’s just been something that’s always been a part of me.”