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Did Patrick Reed cheat…again? 

During the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, Reed called over a rules official to look and see whether or not the ball was embedded in the rough. 

See Sequence Below 

Watching on the CBS broadcast, it is clear that the ball bounces before sitting down in the deep grass. 

Reed then walks over to it, picks the ball up and moves it, before calling for a ruling. 

He tells the rules official that the ball did not bounce and the official accepts his version of the story. 

Reed is allowed a free drop, and then went on to save par. 

Here's Reed on #10 from the time he hit his approach. Decide for yourself. pic.twitter.com/pHQSF3ly9T

— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) January 30, 2021

CBS is also getting roasted for their handling of the event, though Jim Nantz and Nick Faldo pressed rules official Ken Tackett on it. 

Tackett is part of the broadcast team (like Gene Steratore in football) and a former Tour official. 

He is not independent, which could have influenced his analysis. 

“Unbelievable! Ken Tackett covering for Reed again,” tweets the No Laying Up Podcast. 

They add, “He needs corrected. The official did NOT identify that the ball had actually embedded BECAUSE THE BALL WAS ALREADY PICKED UP.” 

Patrick Reed has a history of cheating, most notably two years ago when he touched the sand before hitting a bunker shot and claimed he didn’t know he touched sand. 

Reed has a share of the lead heading into tomorrow’s final round.