New book paints Patrick Reed as cheater in college; Reed responds

Not a lot of people knew the backstory of Patrick Reed before he turned pro in 2011.

At best, some fans knew Reed as the kid who led unlikely Augusta State University to a consecutive NCAA men’s golf championships. However, now that he’s a four-time PGA Tour winner, fans want to learn more about the U.S. anti-hero from the Ryder Cup. A forthcoming book is about to shed some light on Reed, and it isn’t flattering.

Author Shane Ryan spent a year covering the PGA Tour for his upcoming “Slaying the Tiger: A Year Inside the Ropes on the New PGA Tour” and spent time with Reed, as well looking into his background. Last week, Ryan released an excerpt centering on Reed, which has been widely praised for its depth of reporting.

Ryan dug into Reed’s childhood, including his affinity for golf at the detriment of other hobbies and forging friendships. Reed’s struggles with his anger and cockiness are depicted as a potential side effect of his strained relationship with his parents. Those issues made an early transition to college difficult.

When Reed enrolled at University of Georgia at 17, he found himself a social outcast among peers, particularly among players on the golf teams, many put off by his style of chastising them for poor play and telling them to their face he would beat them on the course. Anonymous sources indicate Reed cheated during a tournament qualifying round, making Reed a bigger pariah. Those same sources accused Reed of stealing from teammates. After UGA coach Chris Haack learned Reed had been trying to keep secret the second of two alcohol-related arrests, he dismissed Reed from the team.

Reed then landed in the lap of then Augusta State coach Josh Gregory, who knew he was taking a flier on a tainted player. However, it was under Gregory’s guidance that the team managed to win back-to-back NCAA titles in the relatively new match-play championship format, where Reed excels. Reed was again accused of cheating during a qualifying tournament, at which point Gregory laid down the law. It was a message Reed apparently took to, at least as it relates to being cavalier with the rules.

While Reed’s teammates were eager to win, they coalesced around the idea of anyone — including their opponents — humbling Reed with a loss. That loss never materialized in the NCAA tournaments, where Reed went 6-0.

Reed went on to earn his PGA Tour card in 2012 after impressively earning starts through a series of Monday qualifying tournaments. A win at the 2013 Wyndham Championship in a playoff over Jordan Spieth cemented his status.

Ryan’s excerpt paints Reed as without many friends on the PGA Tour, something Reed even admits. Wife Justine, who caddied for her husband before giving birth to the couple’s first child in 2014, is always at his side.

The world No. 16 responded to Ryan’s piece in a statement to Golf Channel on Monday. Through his representation at IMG, Reed said, “The accusations that were made against me are serious and were intended to damage my reputation and character. They will not be taken lightly. My team and my representatives are looking into all aspects of this matter, and we look forward to setting the record straight.

“For now, I’m staying focused on my life in the present and being the best husband, father and golfer I can be.”

Reed, who finished T-40 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, is not entered in this week’s Farmers Insurance Open.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

Follow @RyanBallengee

Devil Ball Golf – Golf – Yahoo Sports