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Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images
Patrick Reed said, “We felt we did the right thing and the rules officer said we did it absolutely perfectly.”
Australian Adam Scott has positioned himself for a “shot” to become the second Australian in two years to win the PGA Tour event at Torrey Pines, but American Patrick Reed was involved in a major rules controversy at his way to share the leadership with the Mexican Carlos Ortiz.
Reed’s second shot at par 4 10 found the rough and moved it believing it was “embedded in the grass”, on the wet field from Friday’s rain, before calling a referee.
The official believed that it had been embedded, although a later television replay showed the ball bouncing once before settling in the rough, allowing Reed a free fall.
He went on to save the pair on his way to 70 to join Ortiz, who stormed the leaderboard with the best round of the day of six under par at 66, at 10 under par.
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“When it comes to pushing and shoving, we felt we did the right thing and the rules officer said we did it absolutely perfectly,” Reed said.
However, the controversy didn’t stop there, with Reed being criticized on social media for what his critics believed was a violation of the rules.
Reed then responded on Twitter, accusing Ulsterman Rory McIlroy of doing the exact same thing on the final hole.
“Rory McIlroy did the same today on the 18th hole,” Reed wrote. “And I didn’t even call a rules official to consider embedded ball. End of story.”
It is not the first time that the Reed polarizer has been accused of cheating.
In 2019, Greg Norman said Reed “turned him down” after he was penalized two sand shots directly behind his ball to improve his position in a bunker at the Hero World Challenge event.
Scott, the former world number one, took the lead at 11 under par when he birdied at par 5 13, but bogeyed three of his last five holes to sign a par 72 that put him in a part of third at eight under par, two shots from the leaders.
Starting the day on the move with an off-beat shot in the second set, Scott started off with a bogey in a backhand round that included an eagle, a double bogey and six birdies.
The world number 23, in just his second appearance at Torrey Pines after finishing second in 2019, said a 15th PGA Tour victory is within his grasp if he takes a chance on Sunday.
Katelyn Mulcahy / Getty Images
Adam Scott hits his tee shot on the fifth hole during the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines South in California.
“Yeah. I mean, I was 72, I felt like 80 at one point and I felt like it was going to be 67 at one point,” Scott said.
“It’s a tough golf course and I got a little grumpy going into there, which is disappointing, but I’m a couple behind and have a chance tomorrow … It can change fast.
“There are opportunities if you make good shots and you get penalized if you make bad shots. So tomorrow I have to find a bag full of good shots.
JOSEPH JOHNSON / THINGS
Sir Bob Charles’s memorabilia are on display at the Shirley Golf Club upstairs in the clubhouse, including the replica of the British Open trophy from his victory at the Open in 1963.
“I’m looking forward to a chance.”
Cameron Davis is the next best of the Australians at four under par after a 71, while Marc Leishman, the defending champion in San Diego this week, is tied for 27th with a shot further back after a 72.
World No. 2 Jon Rahm (72) and midway leader Viktor Hovland (73) are among the five-man group tied for third with Scott, while McIlroy is one of four players with seven under. par after a round of 70.
