Australian Adam Scott has put himself in a position to have a “crack” at becoming the second Australian in as many years to win the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, but American Patrick Reed was involved in a major rules controversy on his way to share of the lead with Mexico’s Carlos Ortiz.
Reed’s second shot on the par-4 10th found the rough and he moved it believing it was “embedded into the turf”, on the damp course due to rain on Friday, before calling over an official.
The official deemed it had been embedded – although subsequently a TV replay showed the ball bounced once before settling into the rough – allowing Reed a free drop.
He went on to save par on his way to a 70 to join Ortiz – who stormed up the leaderboard with the day’s best round of six-under 66 – at 10-under.
“When all comes to push and shove, we felt like we did the right thing and the rules official said we did it absolutely perfectly,” Reed said.
The controversy didn’t stop there, however, with Reed castigated on social media for what his critics believed was a breach of the rules.
Reed then fired back on Twitter, accusing Ulsterman Rory McIlroy of doing exactly the same thing on the final hole.
“Rory McIlroy did the same thing today on hole 18,” Reed wrote. “And didn’t even call a rules official over to deem the ball embedded. End of story.”
It’s not the first time that the polarising Reed has been accused of cheating.
In 2019, Greg Norman said he was “repulsed” by Reed after he was penalised two shots for sand directly behind his ball to improve his lie in a bunker at the Hero World Challenge event.
Scott, the former world No.1, took the outright lead at 11-under when he made birdie on the par-5 13th but bogeyed three of his final five holes to sign for an even-par 72 that left him in a share of third at eight-under – two shots off the leaders.
Starting moving day a shot off the pace in joint second, Scott began with a bogey in a topsy-turvy round that included an eagle, a double-bogey and six birdies.
The world No.23 – in only his second appearance at Torrey Pines after finishing second in 2019 – said a 15th win on the PGA Tour is in reach if he takes his chances on Sunday.
