Patrick Reed: 'Spieth Didn't Want To Play With Me'

Reed gave an interview with the New York Times explaining why he and Spieth weren't paired this year

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Patrick Reed: ‘Spieth Didn’t Want To Play With Me’

One of the big issues coming out of the US side after their defeat in Paris was Jim Furyk‘s decision not to pair Spieth and Reed together.

The two Texans bossed it at Hazeltine two years ago, winning 2.5 points from four games, but were not put out together this year.

That is, we now know, due to Jim Furyk and Jordan Spieth, who decided that Spieth and Thomas would be his go-to pairing.

It worked, as they picked up three points from four matches together, but it left Reed in a difficult spot.

The Masters champion spoke to the New York Times after the harrowing defeat, telling them that he told Jim Furyk that Jordan Spieth was his number one choice and Tiger Woods was his second choice.

Why didn’t he and Spieth play together then? Because Spieth wanted to play with Thomas.

“The issue’s obviously with Jordan not wanting to play with me,” Reed said.

“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’s wife Justine seemed to suggest that Spieth chose to play with Thomas as well, and was critical of Jim Furyk and the Golf Channel in a series of tweets on throughout the week:

I can assure you- you’re wrong. Patrick never said that he didn’t want to play with Jordan. Maybe you should ask Jordan why he didn’t want to play with Patrick. You don’t have to love the people you work with- but when you have chemistry and success, you go with it for the TEAM.

— Justine (@JustineKReed) September 28, 2018

It was set up that way. He was the leading point scorer for the last two Ryder Cups. You don’t see any of the others playing Molinari and Fleetwood? Yet you change the most winning pairing in American History in Patrick and Jordan.

— Justine (@JustineKReed) September 29, 2018

Wow. And you’re the Editor of @GolfChannel Doesn’t surprise me. He didn’t hit many fairways today, but many didn’t. He made sure he scrambled. First day, he made 5 birdies, and hit a ton of fairways, and sat the afternoon. I guess this is where the hate comes from @GolfChannel

— Justine (@JustineKReed) September 29, 2018

You must be living in La la land! They (GC) are the ones that are unspeakably awful. Not even trying to hide their bias, their prejudice and their hatred. Journalistically disqualified. Have been for a long time. Now others can see it clearly as well.

— Justine (@JustineKReed) September 30, 2018

Jim Furyk’s moves have been analysed and, whilst the pairing of JT and Spieth worked well, he failed to get anything out of Reed in the doubles sessions.

Perhaps, with hindsight, Thomas should have been paired with Rickie Fowler after their success at the Presidents Cup last year, and Reed and Spieth could have played together.

Instead, Reed struggled as he and Woods lost both of their fourball games and he was rested in both of the foursomes sessions.

Captain America, as he has been known in recent times, didn’t turn up at Le Golf National and a USA side without him firing is a weakened one.

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