Reed denies cheating

I wasn’t intentionally trying to improve a lie or anything like that.

PATRICK Reed maintains his innocence. AFP

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Former Masters champion Patrick Reed denied he was a cheat after being penalized for improving his lie, insisting his actions were not intentional.

Reed, who is part of captain Tiger Woods’ US team at this week’s Presidents Cup in Melbourne, was docked two strokes for improper swings during the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.

The 29-year-old’s club twice moved sand from behind his ball as he set up his shot from a waste bunker in the third round of the tournament on Friday.

He has been criticized by some members of Ernie Els’ International side, including Cameron Smith who was quoted by Australian media as saying he had no sympathy for “cheats.”

Asked how he felt about being branded a cheat, Reed replied: “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.”

Reed acknowledged at the time that he moved sand with both practice swings and therefore violated the rules, calling it “unfortunate.” His bogey at the 11th hole was changed to a triple-bogey eight.

But he stressed there was no ill-intent and said his Presidents Cup teammates, including Woods, had offered support.

And he insisted he had no problem with anyone on the International team voicing their opinion.

“They’re not supposed to talk good about us and we’re not supposed to talk good about them leading into this event, that’s normal,” he said.