“Got Arrested for Underage Drinking”: Patrick Reed Spills Truth About His Unpleasant Past

When it comes to controversies, Captain America, Patrick Reed always tops the list. Be it the rift with Jordan Spieth at the Ryder Cup in 201, or the 2023 Dubai Desert Classic beef because of the penalty shot he took, by the looks of it, it seems that Reed had engaged in some controversially fun things way before he turned pro—to be precise, in his college days!

In a recent interview with Golf.com’s Breakthrough, he opened up about how his experience was when he drank for the first time. It turns out that the first time was not a charm for him.

Why was Patrick Reed arrested at the University of Georgia?

He got caught by the university guards and was arrested for underage drinking. He ignited the fire and made matters worse by producing a fake ID for the police. He said, “got in trouble with got arrested for underage drinking. It was funny. It was the first time I ever drank, and I got in trouble for it.” Luckily, the golfer was able to get out of it with just 60 hours of community service. Apart from being arrested, his college days at the University of Georgia were not easy for him!

Reed was also accused of stealing a watch, a putter, and $400 from the locker and cheating on the course, which he denied. His fellow teammates wanted him to shift universities because things were not settling well. He quit the University of Georgia and joined Augusta State University.

Things at Augusta State University did not start off great! A LIV golfer was accused of shaving strokes off his scorecards, and his teammates voted to kick him off the team. It was Reed’s coach who did not kick him out but sanctioned a two-match suspension. Reed turned out to be instrumental in helping Augusta State achieve their two NCAA Division 1 men’s golf back-to-back championships in 2010 and 2011.

Patrick Reed only knew about grinding on the golf course. He did not spend too much time with his teammates apart from the course, as he liked to be by himself and attend classes. He would just pop his headphones on and get the work done. He did not know “what real team golf was at that point.” But the player has come a long way. The fact that he is a part of the 4 Aces, under the captainship of Dustin Johnson, is a standing testament to that.

Well, Patrick Reeds’ story is only one among the several stories of elite golfers who once faced the repercussions of alcohol consumption. He got off having to pay only a minimal price, some had to take their leave to come back sober!

Chris Kirk’s journey to getting back on track

Chris Kirk got into heavy drinking and developed an addiction. This, in turn, affected his game as well. The golfer, who once used to be in the 16th position on the OWGR list, dropped down to the 188th position back in 2015. He could not make the cut at four consecutive events and missed 11 over in just 17 events on the 2018–2019 PGA Tour. In 2019, after the Mayakoba, his rank dropped to 303.

It was then that on the eve of his 34th birthday in May 2019, Christ Kirk decided to take an ‘indefinite leave’ from golfing so that he could deal with his alcohol problem, which also led to depression. He stated, “I thought I could control it, but after multiple relapses, I have come to realize I can’t fix this on my own.” He took his leave and invested the time in himself.

Read More: Is Patrick Reed Playing in Masters 2024?

Fast forward to the present time: Kirk has gotten better and is now playing again on the PGA Tour. He also bagged the first position at the Sentry! It looks like the time off was all that he needed! What are your thoughts about Patrick Reed’s hard time that he had to face in college? Let us know in the comments below.

Read More: Top 3 Patrick Reed Moments to Remember From Hero Dubai Desert Classic Despite His Absence in 2024