Patrick Reed's caddie banned after altercation with fan at Presidents Cup

• Kessler Karain admits ‘shoving’ a spectator at Royal Melbourne
• ‘I don’t think there’s one caddie I know that could blame me’

Yet another layer of controversy has attached itself to Patrick Reed after his caddie was removed from bag duties in the final round of the Presidents Cup because of an altercation with a member of the public. Kessler Karain, who is also Reed’s brother-in-law, admitted he pushed a spectator at Royal Melbourne after what he regarded as over-the-top abuse towards the golfer. Reed and his US teammates, captained by Tiger Woods, will take to Sunday’s singles element of the biennial meeting against the international team trailing 10-8.

Reed earned unwanted headlines last weekend during the penultimate round of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. Footage showed the former Masters champion twice flicked sand from behind his ball during practice swings and earned Reed a two-stroke penalty. Reed remains adamant he did not intentionally improve his lie but the incident has followed him to Australia, where spectators have regularly been heard verbally abusing the 29-year-old.

Matters boiled over at the conclusion of a Saturday fourball defeat for Reed and Webb Simpson to Hideki Matsuyama and CT Pan, as Karain was seen stepping from a buggy and into the crowd. Karain later told media in Melbourne that one spectator had shouted “you fucking suck” at Reed from 3ft away and that the caddie had grown frustrated by what he perceived as a lack of action towards cat-calling attendees.

“As a caddie, one of your jobs is to protect your player,” said Karain. “And unlike several other sports, in golf fans can get pretty close to athletes.

“We have been known for having fun with some good banter, but after hearing several fans in Australia for three days, some had taken it too far. I had enough. And this gentleman was one of them.

“I got off the cart and shoved him, said a couple 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.”

In a statement, the PGA Tour said: “Following an incident that took place on Saturday at the Presidents Cup involving Kessler Karain and a spectator, Karain will not return to caddie for Sunday’s final-round singles matches. We will have no further comment at this time.”

Reed added: “I respect the Tour’s decision. We are all focused on winning the Presidents Cup tomorrow.”

Reed will face Pan again in the singles. Woods takes on Abraham Ancer in the opening match of 12.

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