Drama at the Presidents Cup as Patrick Reed’s caddie furiously shoves a fan who told the golfer ‘you f****** suck’ – as the aftermath is caught on video
- After taunts from the crowd, Patrick Reed’s caddie shoved and swore at a fan
- Kessler Karain, also the US golfer’s brother-in-law, said he was ‘protecting’ him
- It came after a difficult day for Reed, who had suffered his third straight defeat
- The caddie insisted the only injury was ‘spilled beer’ which he would ‘reimburse’
Day three of the Presidents Cup was overshadowed by a dramatic altercation between an irate fan and Patrick Reed’s caddie.
The controversial US golfer, 29, was riding on a golf cart with his caddie of six years, and brother-in-law, Kessler Karain, when a fan shouted ‘you f*****g suck’.
Karain leapt off the cart as tensions boiled over, ‘shoved’ the fan and swore at him.
Security were forced to step in during the unsportsmanlike incident, with video showing officials confronting Karain and following Reed’s cart.
Patrick Reed’s caddie Kessler Karain (pictured) was confronted by a police officer following the incident, where he leapt off a golf cart and shoved a spectator
Golf caddie Karain (pictured) was then seen gesticulating at the watching crowd, just moments after shoving a fan
US PGA Tour officials are investigating the incident, but the caddie insisted he was just ‘protecting his player’ and the only damage was a ‘spilled beer’.
Footage filmed by a spectator showed Karain in the moments after the incident, with an unknown man shouting ‘you can’t do that’ – presumably in reference to him shoving the fan.
Karain is then stopped by police before gesticulating to the crowd and getting back on the cart.
Making a statement via US-based gold podcast Fore Play, Karain said: ‘We have been known for having fun with some good banter, but after hearing several fans in Australia for 3 days some had taken it too far.
‘I had had enough. And this gentlemen was one of them.’
It came during a frustrating day for the American team, with Reed having suffered his third straight defeat at the event.
Patrick Reed of the United States team (pictured right) and his caddie Kessler Karain look on during the Saturday four-ball matches at the Presidents Cup in Melbourne
It had been a difficult day for American golfer Patrick Reed (right), with tensions boiling over when his caddie Kessler Karrain (left) pushed a fan
Reed has been heckled throughout at Royal Melbourne following his controversial penalty in the Bahamas last week where he was docked two strokes for improving his lie in a waste bunker.
Karain went on to explain: ‘Riding on the cart, guy was about 3 feet from Patrick and said ‘you f*****g suck’.
‘I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple of things, probably a few expletives.
‘Security came and I got back in the cart and left.
‘I don’t think there’s one caddie I know that could blame me.
‘Unless his bones break like Mr Glass, the most harm done was a little spilled beer which I’m more than happy to reimburse him for.’
Last week, the former Masters winner was penalised for improving his lie in a bunker during a tournament, with Australian International team member Cameron Smith labelling him a cheat.
On day one, Reed shouldered Smith, who was in the crowd, as he left a hole, with the Australian saying he wasn’t sure what prompted the bizarre action.
Winless from his three matches, Reed (pictured at the Presidents Cup on Saturday) has been targeted by local fans with continual taunts since his arrival in Australia
Before Reed arrived in Melbourne, players on the Ernie Els-captained International team urged local crowds to give him a hard time, after Smith accused the American of ‘cheating the rules’.
In a pre-tournament media conference, Reed denied cheating and said he had inadvertently breached the rule.
Some spectators had brought miniature shovels to the course and waved them at Reed.
Others have worn shirts branding him ‘The Excavator’.
One group of fans had their toy clubs and shovels confiscated by security.
Patrick Reed (pictured) was accused of cheating in the third round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas last week