Meet Patrick Reed, the controversial Masters champion whose wife was his caddy and who hasn't talked to his family in 6 years
Patrick Reed was born in 1990 into a golfing family. One of his first baby gifts was a set of plastic golf clubs.
He has an especially close relationship with his wife Justine — for two years, she worked as Patrick's caddy on the pro golf circuit.
Source: WPTV News
Patrick and Justine met at Augusta State University, where Patrick led the golf team to two national championships. He transferred to Augusta State after a tumultuous year at University of Georgia.
Source: Golf.com, Business Insider
Justine is a natural athlete and made headlines when she volunteered to be Patrick's caddie. "She's helped me so much," Patrick said. "She would get me to slow down and think things through."
Source: Golf.com
Justine stepped down from caddying in 2014 when she became pregnant, but the job stayed in the family, with Justine's brother Kessler taking over.
Source: Golf.com
Justine still advises Patrick before each tournament, plotting strategy hole by hole.
Source: Golf.com
The couple has two children: Windsor-Wells, born in 2014, and Barrett Benjamin, born in December.
Source: New York Post
The Reeds have a fraught relationship with Patrick's family — Patrick hasn't had any contact with his parents or sister since 2012.
Source: Golf.com
Patrick's mother Jeannette once said she thought the estrangement began because she and her husband Bill suggested the couple was too young to get married. They weren't invited to the couple's wedding in 2012.
Source: Golf.com
In 2014, Patrick's parents and his sister Hannah went to watch Patrick at the US Open in North Carolina. Police surrounded the family at the 18th hole and were escorted off the grounds, apparently at Justine's wishes.
Source: Golf.com
The couple rarely discusses the estrangement publicly, but in 2016, Justine excoriated Patrick's parents on social media for allegedly abusing him verbally and physically as a child.
Source: The Sun
Patrick's sister Hannah went on social media to refute Justine's claims. She called Patrick "a selfish, horrible stranger' and said "it is devastating seeing my parents hurt and suffer from what is being posted about them."
Source: The Sun
Amid the public drama, Reed has kept himself at a distance from others. "I don't really know him, even though we played on the Ryder Cup team together," said golfer Ryan Moore. "He keeps to himself and does his own thing."
Source: Golf.com
Another golfer, Webb Simpson, said, "He's a hard worker, he always tries to handle his business, and I respect that."
Source: Golf.com
While Patrick is enjoying his rapid rise to golf stardom, his family remains supportive, occasionally giving media appearances and posting congratulatory messages on social media.
Source: Golf.com
After winning the Masters on Sunday, Reed was asked if it was bittersweet not to share the moment with his family. "I'm just out here to play golf and try to win golf tournaments," he said.
Source: New York Post
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