Reed: Presidents Cup Personal After Cameron Smith Cheating Comments
The American has responded to Cameron Smith's comments around his two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge


The American has responded to Cameron Smith's comments around his two-stroke penalty at the Hero World Challenge
Reed: Presidents Cup Personal After Cameron Smith Cheating Comments
Patrick Reed has said that the Presidents Cup is now "turning personal" after Cameron Smith labeled the American a cheat.
Smith told the Australian Associated Press that “If you make a mistake maybe once, you could maybe understand but to give a bit of a bulls*** response like the camera angle … that’s pretty up there.
“I don’t have any sympathy for anyone that cheats.
“I hope the crowd absolutely gives it to not only him, but everyone (on the American team) next week.”
Reed, who plays in his third Presidents Cup this week, has responded to Smith's criticism, saying that 'cheat' is "not the right word to use."
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The 29-year-old was penalised two strokes at the Hero World Challenge for improving his lie in a waste area by moving sand with two practice swings.
“It's not the right word to use. At the end of the day, if you do something unintentionally that breaks the rules, it's not considered cheating and at the end of the day that's what it is.
“If you're intentionally trying to do something, that would be considered cheating, but I wasn't intentionally trying to improve a lie or anything like that, because if it was, it would have been a really good lie and I would have hit it really close.”
The 2018 Masters champion also said that the Presidents Cup has now turned personal after Smith's comments.
“It goes from wanting to beat those guys to it now turning personal, so it's going to be a fun week,” he said.
USA's playing captain Tiger Woods was brief on his answer when asked about Reed this week in Melbourne.
"Yes, I have talked to Pat," the 15-time Major winner said.
"As we all know, Pat was penalised that was it, end of story.
"Unfortunately missed the playoff by two shots, but we're on to this week and getting ready for the Internationals, and we've got a couple days."
The Presidents Cup begins on Thursday with the USA looking to retain the trophy after winning the last seven editions.
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Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, X and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 and 2025 Masters from Augusta National and was there by the 18th green to watch Rory McIlroy complete the career grand slam. He has also covered five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: Titleist TSi2
Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1
Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
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